Literary Devices
The narrator describes seeing her "steamy breath billowing then dissipating in the cold air (2)." This vivid description is an example of this literary device.
What is imagery?
Define "efficiency" as it is used in line 3.
What is working in a well-organized and productive way." used to describe the mother's movements?
Lines 1-5 describe the mother's "efficiency in every step and gesture" and her "strong" legs and arms. What is the primary purpose of this description?
What is to establish the mother's strength, competence, and determination?
What skill is question 2 asking (Author's Word Choice, Characterization, Tone, Vocabulary, Writing Strategy, Recall) and how do you know?
What is writing strategy because it is asking specifically about theme?
Which lines help you to answer question 4?
What is "the submisori is the special sound-like a whistle or a dolphin's call-a haenyo makes as she breaches the surface of the sea.." (27-28) because they explain the terms 'submisori' and 'haenyo'?
When the mother says "Every woman who enters the sea carries a coffin on her back, (88)" she is using this literary device to suggest the danger of diving.
What is metaphor?
Define "submisori" as used in line 25.
What is the special sound—like a whistle or a dolphin's call—a haenyeo makes as she breaches the surface?
The narrator states, "Suddenly I felt like a woman (6)." What is the purpose of this line in the passage?
What is to show the narrator's realization that she is now taking on adult responsibilities and joining a meaningful tradition?
Which line helps you to answer question 2?
What is "you learned to swim together" (14), or "two of you are closer than friends" (20-21)?
What skill is question 7 asking (Author's Word Choice, Characterization, Tone, Vocabulary, Writing Strategy, Recall) and how do you know?
What is central idea because it is directly asking for the central idea of the specific lines?
Mi-ja's use of the honorific "Auntie" and her bowing and backing away reveal this quality about her character.
What is respect for tradition/deference to elders?
Define "deference" as used in line 12 (do not just copy the footnote).
What is "giving in to" or "showing respect and submission to someone of higher status," as Mi-ja does when she bows to the mother?
Lines 14-21 show the mother praising Mi-ja and then telling both girls they are "like sisters" and must "take care of each other." What is the purpose of these lines?
What is to establish the theme of cooperation and the deep bonds between the haenyeo community?
What skill is question 3 asking (Author's Word Choice, Characterization, Tone, Vocabulary, Writing Strategy, Recall) and how do you know?
What is Author's Word Choice because it is asking how the author's words emphasize a point in the passage?
Which lines help you to answer question 7?
What is "the sea doesn't belong to anyone, but every collective had assigned diving rights to specific territories" (63-64) because it shows they have equal opportunities to harvest?
The Mother's comparison of the narrator and Mi-ja's relationship to sisters "tied by blood" (21) develops this central idea about the haenyeo community.
What is that bonds formed through shared work and danger are as strong as family bonds?
Define "bantering" as used in line 59 (do not just copy the footnote).
What is teasing, joking or making fun of in a playful manner?
The mother explains that "Just as on land, our sea fields also follow the seasons (70)" and describes harvest restrictions for conch and abalone. What is the purpose of this explanation?
What is to demonstrate the haenyeo's role as stewards of the ocean and their commitment to sustainable practices?
Which line helps you to answer question 3?
What is "it was as much a blessing as a warning" which shows there is danger in being haenyo?
What skill is question 9 asking (Author's Word Choice, Characterization, Tone, Vocabulary, Writing Strategy, Recall) and how do you know?
What is writing strategy because it is asking specifically about mood?
The Mother's careful decision to take the baby-divers to the underwater canyon—where "the most experienced among us can go as deep as we want, while the baby-divers can pick through those spots close to the surface" (78—80 )develops this central idea about tradition and growth.
What is that traditions can be preserved while allowing newcomers to gradually develop skills and earn their place in the community?
Define "spawning "as used in line 70.
What is mating or the process of releasing eggs and sperm by aquatic animals (fish, crustaceans, mollusks, corals, amphibians) into the water for external fertilization?
The passage states "Mothers are closer to the women in their diving collective than they are to their own children" (32) and shows the narrator observing Do-saeng and Yu-ri together. What is the purpose of these lines?
What is to illustrate how the diving collective functions as an extended family and to foreshadow the narrator's future relationship with her own mother?
What skill is question 4 asking (Author's Word Choice, Characterization, Tone, Vocabulary, Writing Strategy, Recall) and how do you know?
What is Author's Word Choice because it is asking about why the lines are used?
Which lines help you to answer question 9?
What is " the other women laughed, causing Mi-ja to blush. Stop teasing her," (52-53) because it shifts from light-hearted to serious?