5A
“The news hit him like a truck.”
Is this literal or figurative
figurative
“The old house crouched at the edge of the forest.”
What word stands out?
crouched
A character looks into a cracked mirror after making a major mistake.
What object might have a meaning beyond its literal meaning?
the cracked mirror
“The kitchen smelled of burnt toast and cold coffee. Empty plates sat untouched on the table, and the refrigerator hummed in the silence.”
What literary device do you see here across BOTH sentences?
Imagery
What literary device means: the emotional or cultural feeling and idea that a word brings to mind, going beyond its exact literal definition
connotation
"The news hit him like a truck"
is an example of a _______________
metaphor
“The old house crouched at the edge of the forest.”
What literary device is in this sentence
personification
A character looks into a cracked mirror after making a major mistake.
what literary device is this?
symbolism
“The kitchen smelled of burnt toast and cold coffee. Empty plates sat untouched on the table, and the refrigerator hummed in the silence.”
What sensory imagery do you notice? (think 5 senses)
→ Smell: burnt toast, cold coffee
→ Sound: refrigerator humming
→ Sight: empty, untouched plates
“He stared at her.”
what connotation does "stared" have?
“Stared” has a somewhat intense, uncomfortable, or confrontational connotation. It suggests more than simply looking at someone.
“The news hit him like a truck.”
What does this new suggest?
The news was shocking or emotionally overwhelming.
“The old house crouched at the edge of the forest.”
What does the word crouched suggest?
Something low, defensive, frightened, or threatening.
A character looks into a cracked mirror after making a major mistake.
What larger idea could the broken mirror represent?
A fractured identity, damaged self-image, guilt, or a life that can no longer be viewed the same way.
“The kitchen smelled of burnt toast and cold coffee. Empty plates sat untouched on the table, and the refrigerator hummed in the silence.”
What does the imagery suggest?
Neglect, loneliness, emptiness, something being wrong
“He stared at her.”
How would the connotation change if we replaced “stared” with “looked”
“Looked” is much more neutral. It simply tells us that he directed his eyes toward her without necessarily suggesting a strong emotion.
"The news hit him like a truck"
Why compare emotional impact to being physically hit? What does that comparison communicate?
This comparison bridges the gap between the invisible mind and the tangible physical world to communicate sudden shock and the overwhelming force of the shock.
“The old house crouched at the edge of the forest.”
Why use the word CROUCHED instead of another word?
"Crouched” makes the house seem almost alive.
A character looks into a cracked mirror after making a major mistake.
Why is a BROKEN MIRROR more meaningful than simply saying, “The character feels guilty”?
The author could just tell us the character feels guilty, but the broken mirror SHOWS us that guilt by making the character’s damaged self-image visible.
“The kitchen smelled of burnt toast and cold coffee. Empty plates sat untouched on the table, and the refrigerator hummed in the silence.”
Why describe the kitchen with burnt toast, cold coffee, untouched plates, and silence instead of simply saying “The kitchen was messy and sad”?
The sensory details allow us to experience the character's environment rather than simply being told how to feel about it.
“He stared at her.”
Why might the author have chosen "Stared" instead of "looked"?
“Stared” gives us more information about how he is looking at her. It suggests that something about her has captured his attention or that he has a strong reaction to her.
"The news hit him like a truck"
What does this help us understand about the character's experience of the news?
the character experienced the news as a sudden, devastating, and overwhelming shock.
“The old house crouched at the edge of the forest.”
What mood does the word crouched create?
The word creates an uneasy, threatening atmosphere and makes the house seem as though it belongs to the dangerous forest rather than being a safe place of shelter.
A character looks into a cracked mirror after making a major mistake.
How does the symbol contribute to the larger meaning?
The broken mirror can show that the character's mistake has changed how they see themselves, emphasizing the lasting effects of guilt or personal failure.
“The kitchen smelled of burnt toast and cold coffee. Empty plates sat untouched on the table, and the refrigerator hummed in the silence.”
What atmosphere is created with this imagery?
The imagery creates a lonely, lifeless atmosphere and may suggest that the character is emotionally disconnected or that something has disrupted the normal life of the household.
“He stared at her.”
How does choosing “stared” instead of “looked” change the way we understand the character or situation?
“Stared” makes the interaction feel more intense or emotionally charged. It may suggest curiosity, attraction, anger, suspicion, or discomfort, depending on the context. The word makes us pay closer attention to the relationship between the characters.