Personification
“The old house groaned and complained as the storm battered its windows.” What two human behaviours are attributed to the house, and what atmosphere do they create?
Groaning and complaining; they create an unsettling or ominous atmosphere.
It is pouring with rain, and someone looks outside and says, “What a lovely day for a picnic!” Which type of irony is this?
Verbal Irony
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
Similes use 'like' or 'as' to compare two things, whereas metaphors make direct comparisons.
“I've told you a million times to close the door!” Explain why this is hyperbole and what the speaker is really communicating.
A million times” is an exaggeration. The speaker is expressing frustration about having to repeat the instruction frequently.
“The old engine coughed, rattled and sputtered down the road.” Which sound-related technique is used, and how do the chosen words help the reader imagine the scene?
Onomatopoeia. “Rattled” and “sputtered” evoke sounds made by the struggling engine; “coughed” also gives the engine a human-like quality.
Explain how the meaning and effect of the sentence change when “The sun shone through the window” becomes “The sun crept through the window.”
“Crept” suggests sneaking or moving cautiously, creating a secretive, suspicious or eerie mood.
A swimming instructor is afraid of water. Why is this situation ironic?
Situational Irony
“The classroom was a pressure cooker.” Explain the implied comparison and how it helps the reader understand the atmosphere.
The classroom is compared to a container building up heat and pressure. It suggests rising tension, stress and the possibility of an emotional outburst.
When she read the message, her heart shattered into a thousand pieces.” Explain why this is not meant to be understood literally and what emotional experience it conveys.
A heart does not literally shatter into pieces. The hyperbole communicates intense emotional pain, heartbreak or devastation.
A character says, “Wow, you’re very good at keeping secrets,” after their friend accidentally reveals a surprise party.
What figure of speech is this?
Innuendo
“The truth sat silently between them, refusing to leave the room.” Identify the personification and explain what it suggests about the characters' situation.
The truth “sat” and “refus[ed] to leave.” It suggests that an uncomfortable truth remains unspoken or unresolved between the characters.
A learner who has just spilt juice all over their homework says, “Well, that couldn't have gone any better!” What makes this statement ironic?
The learner says the opposite of what they really mean.
“Memory is a thief, stealing the sharp edges of yesterday until even our greatest pain becomes a faded photograph.” Identify two connected metaphors and explain the idea they develop together.
Memory is a “thief”, and the past becomes a “faded photograph.” Together, these suggest that time and memory gradually weaken the clarity and intensity of past experiences.
“I am so hungry I could eat an entire elephant!” Identify the hyperbole and explain what it suggests.
The exaggeration is “I could eat an entire elephant.” It suggests that the person is extremely hungry.
The silver snake slid silently through the grass.” Identify two sound devices working together and explain how they contribute to the imagery.
Alliteration, through the repeated initial “s” sound, and sibilance, through the repeated hissing sound. Together, they create a smooth, whispering or snake-like sound that reinforces the image of the snake moving quietly.
Compare these descriptions: “The wind blew through the trees” and “The wind hunted the travellers through the trees.” How does the second description change the reader's perception of the wind?
The wind becomes a threatening predator rather than a natural force. “Hunted” creates danger and makes the travellers seem vulnerable.
In a film, the audience sees a character's phone ringing inside a cupboard, but the character searches everywhere else. What type of irony might this create, and why?
Dramatic Irony because the audience knows something the character does not.
“After hearing the good news, her heart was a balloon ready to burst with happiness.” Identify the metaphor and explain what it suggests about her feelings.
Her heart is compared to a balloon ready to burst. This suggests that she is extremely happy and full of excitement.
When I saw the mountain of homework on my desk, I thought I would be busy until the end of time.” Explain how hyperbole is used in this sentence.
“Until the end of time” exaggerates how long the homework will take. It emphasises how overwhelming the amount of homework seems to the learner.
The sentence “She sells seashells by the seashore” repeats the same beginning sound. Which figure of speech is used?
Alliteration
A writer describes a city as follows: “The city swallowed its newcomers, chewed up their dreams and spat them out as strangers.” Analyse how the personification presents the idea of the city to readers.
The city is portrayed as a destructive monster. The sequence of violent actions suggests that it consumes people's hopes, damages their ambitions and leaves them isolated. The writer presents the city as hostile and unforgiving.
A company that makes security alarms is burgled because its own alarm system fails. Explain why this is an example of situational irony.
The company is expected to make reliable security systems, yet its own system fails to protect it. The outcome is the opposite of what we would expect.
My brother is a walking dictionary.” Explain what this metaphor suggests about him.
It suggests that he knows a lot of words or has a great deal of knowledge.
Why do writers use hyperbole in their writing?
To emphasise an idea or feeling, make a description more dramatic, or create humour by exaggerating something.
“The White House announced a new policy.” The building itself did not make the announcement. Identify the technique and explain what “the White House” represents.
Synecdoche, as the name of a place associated with the institution is used to refer to the US presidential administration.