Figurative Language
What does “arrogant” mean in the sentence: “I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky.”?
What is overly proud or confident?
What’s one thing you can underline when you annotate a story?
What is an important idea or repeated phrase?
What does “arrogant” mean in the sentence: “I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky.”?
What is overly proud or confident?
What does Superman symbolize in the essay?
What is strength, hope, or the power of learning?
What is a metaphor?
What is a comparison without using "like" or "as"?
“We lived on a combination of irregular paychecks, hope, fear, and government surplus food.”
This sentence uses which literary device by mixing emotions with physical things?
If you see a metaphor, what should you write in the margin?
What is what the metaphor really means?
In the essay, “subvert” means to challenge or go against something. What is Alexie trying to subvert?
What is the stereotype of Native kids not being smart?
What do books symbolize for young Alexie?
What is opportunity, knowledge, or escape?
Alexie compares a paragraph to a “fence.” What is he saying about paragraphs?
What is they hold ideas together and give structure?
Alexie says some kids “refused to read, refused to write, and refused to be educated.” Repeating the word “refused” is an example of what?
What is repetition?
You notice the word “Superman” appears more than once. What kind of annotation should you make?
What is a note about repetition or symbolism?
What is a “stereotype”?
What is a common but unfair belief about a group of people?
Why do the kids in the back of the classroom symbolize something important?
hat is being ignored or underestimated?
“I fight with my pencil.” What does Alexie mean by this metaphor?
What is he uses writing to make a difference?
“I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky.” What’s the effect of this short, choppy phrasing?
What is to show confidence and strong emotion?
When Alexie talks about teaching Native kids to read, what could you circle or highlight?
What is evidence of the author’s purpose or theme?
What does “reservation” mean in this essay?
What is a piece of land where many Native American families live?
What might the classroom door represent?
What is access to learning or being shut out?
“He is trying to save his life.” What is being compared here?
What is reading is being compared to survival?
When Alexie says he “read with equal parts joy and desperation,” what feeling is he showing through figurative language?
What is hunger for knowledge or emotional struggle?
You find a moment where Alexie changes from telling a story to making a strong point. What should you do?
What is mark the shift and write a note about its meaning?
“Desperation” means...
What is a strong feeling of needing something badly?
What does Alexie mean when he says he reads “to save his life”?
What is that reading gave him a future or identity?
The title "Superman and Me” is a metaphor. What does it suggest about Alexie and Superman?
What is they both use their strength to fight against obstacles?