Figurative Language
The thunder roared angrily as dark storm clouds galloped across the afternoon sky.
What is personification? (Attributing human actions/emotions—roared angrily, galloped—to thunder and clouds).
An author describes a classroom as "a quiet sanctuary of calm." How does this metaphor impact the tone?
What is creating a peaceful, serene, or welcoming tone?
"He was a real Romeo when he brought his mother flowers for her birthday." What literary work does this allusion reference?
What is Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? (Refers to a romantic or charming gesture).
True or False: According to 7th-grade Florida B.E.S.T. Standards, a theme can be stated as a single word like "Courage" or "Love."
What is False? (A theme must be phrased as a complete sentence or complete thought that communicates a full message/insight).
How do a character's actions and choices during the climax of a story help reveal the theme?
What is they show what values or lessons the character has learned through the central conflict?
My backpack weighs a million tons today!
What is hyperbole? (An extreme exaggeration not meant to be taken literally).
If a writer describes a character's laugh as "a screeching rusty hinge," what connotation does this phrase carry about the character?
What is a negative, harsh, or irritating connotation?
"Cleaning out my closet turned out to be opening a Pandora’s Box." What does this allusion mean in the context of the sentence?
What is starting a process that creates a lot of unexpected problems or trouble?
What is the key difference between a story's topic and a story's theme?
What is a topic is the subject (e.g., friendship), while a theme is the author's complete message about that subject (e.g., true friendship requires sacrifice)?
In a story where a young inventor builds an AI robot that takes over her town, what universal theme is being developed?
What is the conflict between human beings and advancements in technology/science?
After losing the championship game by 30 points, the coach said, 'Well, we had a tiny bump in the road.'
What is meiosis (or understatement)? (Presenting a major situation with underemphasis for effect).
"The old mansion stood on the hill like a silent guard watching over the town." How does this simile shape the mood of the passage?
What is establishing a mysterious, tense, or solemn mood?
"Don't trust him with your secrets—he is a Trojan Horse in our group." What historical/mythological event is being referenced, and what does it mean?
What is the ancient Greek story of the Trojan War; it means someone who seems friendly on the outside but intends to deceive or destroy from within?
What is a universal theme?
What is an underlying idea or message that applies to anyone, anywhere, regardless of culture or time period?
A character spends years trying to hide a mistake from their past, but it eventually comes to light and forces them to make amends. What universal theme is developed here?
What is the impact of the past on the present?
When Sarah asked her brother to help clean the garage, he told her to hold your horses.
What is an idiom? (An expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal words).
In a story about a student taking a final exam, the author writes: "The clock on the wall was a ticking time bomb." How does this metaphor contribute to the overall meaning?
What is emphasizing extreme anxiety, pressure, or a feeling that time is running out?
In a story, a character trying to complete a massive pile of chores is described as having "an Achilles' heel: his inability to resist taking phone breaks." How does this allusion support the text's message?
What is it highlights a specific, fatal weakness that threatens to ruin an otherwise strong effort?
Which universal theme is shown when a character leaves home on a trek through a brutal blizzard to save their family?
What is an individual's or community's confrontation with nature?
How does a character's character arc (growth or transformation over time) support the development of a theme?
What is the changes a character undergoes demonstrate the author's message in action (e.g., learning to value honesty over popularity)?
Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers" is an example of alliteration. What device is used when an author writes, "The fireplace hissed and crackled on the cold winter evening"?
What is onomatopoeia? (Words that imitate natural sounds).
Read these two descriptions of a rainstorm:
Option A: "Soft gray raindrops kissed the windowpane."
Option B: "Violent rain whipped against the glass like a swarm of angry bees."
How do the tones of these two passages contrast?
What is Option A has a gentle/comforting tone, while Option B has a hostile/aggressive tone?
"When the storm hit our neighborhood, it looked like Noah’s Ark would be needed." How does this biblical allusion affect the tone of the description?
What is it emphasizes the extreme severity/magnitude of the flood waters using a dramatic, historic reference?
Name the universal theme that focuses on a character moving from childhood ignorance to adult understanding through an eye-opening or painful experience.
What is the loss of innocence?
ead the short scenario:
Marcus wants to be an elite violinist, but he hates practicing. He relies on natural talent until he loses a major competition to someone who worked hard every day. Marcus then commits to daily practice and wins second place next year.
State a complete theme statement for this story.
What is "Natural talent alone is not enough to achieve success without dedication and hard work" (or similar complete thought)?