Figurative Language
Define "hyperbole".
An over-exaggeration
Examples: I have a million things to do today; that bag weighs a ton; this homework is going to take forever; I'm melting in this heat; she runs as fast as the wind
The overall message of a story
A universal statement that teaches readers about life through the text
What does it mean to make an inference when reading?
To make an educated guess on the implications of the text or what something means if you “read between the lines”, even if it’s not explicitly stated. We make inferences to choose the best piece of text evidence.
What is a topic sentence?
A claim
The first sentence of a body paragraph
Gives a preview to what the body paragraph will be discussing
Always connected back to a point from the thesis statement
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
Simile - comparing two things using like or as
Metaphor - comparing two things without using like or as
What is one way in which authors develop or show the theme of their story?
A: Through conflict
B: Through characters’ thoughts
C: Through characters’ actions
D: All of the above
D: All of the above
Choose an inference that could be logically drawn from the following quote: “In case getting blinded hadn’t made it clear, recovering taught me that my small life didn’t matter to the world overall…”
A: The narrator feels negatively about her life since she lost her sight.
B: The narrator hasn’t experienced a lot in her young life.
A: The narrator feels negatively about her life since she lost her sight.
Revise/correct the following reasoning sentence to use more advanced language: “This quote shows that figurative language is important because it gives an example of a metaphor.”
Example response: Here, the author demonstrates the significance of figurative language due to his use of metaphor. In this case, the author compares _____ to _____, illustrating...
"Their strength is secret. They send ferocious roots beneath the ground. They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger. This is how they keep."
The personification in this paragraph helps communicate that the trees are…
A: Weak
B: Aging
C: Strong
D: Dangerous
C: Strong
Based on the last part of the story “Abuela Invents the Zero” when Constancia’s mother scolds her for making her grandma feel like a nothing, what is the theme of the story?
People should treat others with kindness and selflessness because it hurts to feel unimportant or bothersome.
Choose an inference that could be logically drawn from the following quote: “... which I don’t think i something you’re supposed to understand until you’re old.”
A: The narrator is a child, maybe a teenager.
B: The narrator is a mature adult.
A: The narrator is a child, maybe a teenager.
Write a topic sentence that would correspond to the following thesis statement in an essay:
Emily Dickinson's unique style of poetry is best reflected in her poem "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" due to her use of dashes, inconsistent rhyme scheme, and varied meter.
Responses may be a variation of:
One way in which Dickinson's style of poetry differs from others is with her use of dashes to create pause for the reader.
In addition, Dickinson's style of poetry is unique to her through the inconsistent rhyme scheme present in her poem.
"They are the only ones who understand me. I am the only one who understands them. Four skinny trees with skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine. Four who do not belong here but are here. Four raggedy excuses planted by the city. From our room we can hear them, but Nenny just sleeps and doesn't appreciate these things."
The personification in this paragraph helps show that…
A: Esperanza thinks the trees are dying.
B: Esperanza feels annoyed by the trees.
C: Esperanza feels a connection to the trees.
D: Esperanza is the only person who sees the trees.
C: Esperanza feels a connection to the trees.
What theme is expressed in the poem “Slam, Dunk, & Hook” when the speaker describes that “When Sonny Boy’s mama died / He played nonstop all day…” (24-25)?
Sports or activities can help people take their minds off of life's challenges, even if the distraction is temporary.
If you did not know what the word tuft meant, what meaning would be most likely, based on context clues in the passage?
When he had lifted one-third of himself clear of the ground, he stayed balancing to and fro exactly as a dandelion tuft balances in the wind, and he looked at Rikki-tikki with the wicked snake’s eyes that never change their expression, whatever the snake may be thinking of.
A: A stem with many leaves
B: A root
C: A bouquet of flowers
D: A cluster of small, soft parts
D: A cluster of small, soft parts
Topic sentence: “The personification used in Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” helps to develop the overall extended metaphor of choices in life being similar to two paths in a forest.
Evidence: “then took the other, as just as fair, / And having perhaps the better claim, / Because it was grassy and wanted wear” (6-8).
What TWO points would you need to include in your reasoning for this quote?
how the quote is an example of personification AND how the example is a part of the overall metaphor of the poem
"Let one forget his reason for being, they’d all droop like tulips in a glass, each with their arms around the other. Keep, keep, keep, trees say when I sleep. They teach."
The simile in this paragraph helps the reader understand…
A: Defeat
B: Support
C: Strength
D: Determination
A: Defeat
The speaker of the poem, “The Road Not Taken” says that he “took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference” (19-20). Based on these last two lines of the poem, what is the text’s theme?
Sometimes it is better to choose a different direction in life than what others choose.
Based on context clues in the passage, what is most likely the meaning of the word vehemently?
"I talked more quickly—more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations, but the noise steadily increased."
A: At a high volume
B: With a lot of passion
C: In a flat monotone
D: Sounding muffled
B: With a lot of passion
Write a thesis statement that responds to the following prompt: Write an essay that discusses the use of figurative language in the poem “Theories of Time and Space” by Natasha Trethewey and explain how the figurative language contributes to the overall message of the poem.
Sample response:
In the poem "Theories of Time and Space", poet Natasha Trethewey uses personification, metaphor, and extended metaphor to illustrate the theme that _______.