Irony
What is irony?
When the opposite of what you expect to happen happens
What is a metaphor?
A comparison WITHOUT using like or as
Exaggeration for effect
What is personification?
When you give non-human things human characteristics
What is a simile?
A comparison USING like or as
Identify the TYPE of Irony below:
An anti-technology website.
Situational Irony
What is being compared in this metaphor? What is the author trying to convey?
My little brother is a tornado—he destroys everything in his path.
The author is comparing his little brother to a tornado to show that he is destructive.
What is being exaggerated in this example? What is the author trying to convey?
I have so much homework that I might as well start writing my will.
The author is exaggerating how much homework they have. They are trying to show that they have a lot of homework to do.
How do we know this is personification? What is the author trying to convey?
My alarm clock screamed at me this morning, but I hit snooze and told it to chill.
It is personification because it is saying the alarm clock screamed when an alarm clock cannot scream. The author is trying to convey that the alarm clock loudly work him up and he snoozed it.
What is being compared in this simile? What is the author trying to convey?
Trying to wake up for school is like trying to move a sleeping elephant.
The author is comparing waking up for school to a moving sleeping elephant. The author is trying to convey that it is impossible to wake up for school.
Read the following sentence from the passage:
"The fire station burned down last night, leaving the firefighters without a home base."
How does the irony in this sentence contribute to the author's purpose?
A. It adds humor to emphasize the unexpected nature of events.
B. It shows that firefighters are careless with fire safety.
C. It proves that the town was unsafe and poorly managed.
D. It suggests that fires are unpredictable and happen anywhere.
A. It adds humor to emphasize the unexpected nature of events.
Read the sentence below from the passage:
"The old oak tree stood as a silent guardian, its gnarled branches stretching out like protective arms over the children playing beneath it."
What is the author's purpose in using this metaphor?
A. To describe how the tree provides shade for the children
B. To show that the tree is strong and protective
C. To suggest that the tree is dangerous and frightening
D. To explain that the tree is very old and about to fall
B. To show that the tree is strong and protective
Read the sentence below:
"I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!"
What is the author’s purpose in using hyperbole in this sentence?
A. To explain why the speaker is frustrated
B. To persuade the reader to clean their room
C. To describe how many times the speaker has actually spoken
D. To entertain by exaggerating for effect
D. To entertain by exaggerating for effect
Read the sentence below:
"The wind whispered through the trees as the sun smiled down on the meadow."
How does the author's use of personification affect the tone of the sentence?
A. It creates a harsh and foreboding atmosphere.
B. It makes the scene feel warm and peaceful.
C. It adds a sense of urgency and danger.
D. It confuses the reader by describing nature unrealistically.
B. It makes the scene feel warm and peaceful.
Read the sentence from the passage:
"The old man’s hands were as rough as sandpaper."
Why does the author use this simile?
A. To show that the old man worked with his hands
B. To compare the old man to a carpenter
C. To describe how soft the old man’s hands were
D. To explain why the old man disliked touching things
A. To show that the old man worked with his hands
Read the following excerpt from the passage:
"As the rain poured down in sheets, the weatherman cheerfully announced, ‘It looks like we’re in for a bright and sunny day!’"
How does the author's use of irony affect the tone and purpose of the passage?
A. It creates a lighthearted tone to entertain the reader.
B. It highlights the weatherman’s expertise in predicting the weather.
C. It suggests that the weather station’s technology is highly accurate.
D. It emphasizes the author’s frustration with inaccurate forecasts.
A. It creates a lighthearted tone to entertain the reader.
Read the excerpt below:
"The city was a restless beast, its streets pulsing with the heartbeat of hurried footsteps and blaring horns."
How does the author's use of metaphor contribute to the passage's overall purpose?
A. It creates an image of a lively and energetic city.
B. It warns readers that cities are dangerous places.
C. It suggests that the city is alive and unpredictable.
D. It emphasizes that cities are overwhelming and chaotic.
C. It suggests that the city is alive and unpredictable.
Read the passage below:
"The line at the coffee shop stretched for miles, and I was sure I’d grow old before getting my morning caffeine fix."
Why does the author use hyperbole in this passage?
A. To show that the coffee shop is a great place to meet new people
B. To emphasize the speaker’s impatience and exaggerate their experience
C. To provide accurate details about the length of the line
D. To convince the reader to avoid the coffee shop
B. To emphasize the speaker’s impatience and exaggerate their experience
Read the passage below:
"The old house groaned in protest as the storm battered its walls. Thunder growled angrily, and the rain danced wildly on the rooftop."
What is the author’s purpose for using personification in this passage?
A. To make the storm seem more frightening and intense
B. To create a playful and cheerful tone
C. To show that the house is actually alive
D. To explain scientific weather patterns
A. To make the storm seem more frightening and intense.
Read the sentence from the passage:
"Her voice was like a soothing melody, calming everyone around her."
What effect does this simile have on the tone of the passage?
A. It creates a sense of fear and urgency.
B. It establishes a peaceful and comforting mood.
C. It suggests that the speaker has trouble hearing.
D. It makes the reader feel tense and nervous.
B. It establishes a peaceful and comforting mood.
In a short story, a poor farmer wins the lottery, believing it will solve all his problems. However, by the end of the story, he is left with even more debt and unhappiness than before.
How does the author's use of irony contribute to their purpose?
A. It emphasizes the idea that money does not always lead to happiness.
B. It shows that the farmer was careless with his winnings.
C. It suggests that the lottery is a fair way to distribute wealth.
D. It proves that hard work is not as valuable as luck.
A. It emphasizes the idea that money does not always lead to happiness.
Read the passage below:
"Hope was a fragile bird perched in her chest, its wings fluttering with every uncertain breath."
How does the author's use of metaphor shape the reader's understanding of the character’s emotional state?
A. It emphasizes the character's physical weakness rather than emotional struggle.
B. It suggests that the character feels nervous and uncertain about the future.
C. It implies that the character's hope is strong and unshakable.
D. It portrays the character as someone who hides their emotions completely.
B. It suggests that the character feels nervous and uncertain about the future.
Read the excerpt below from a persuasive article:
"If we don’t stop cutting down trees at this rate, there won’t be a single leaf left on Earth in ten years! Every second, a million forests are destroyed, and soon we’ll be living in a barren wasteland!"
How does the author’s use of hyperbole contribute to the persuasive purpose of the passage?
A. It provides factual evidence to support the argument
B. It makes the argument more dramatic to grab the reader’s attention and urgency
C. It shows that the author has done extensive research on deforestation
D. It downplays the seriousness of the issue to make it less alarming
B. It makes the argument more dramatic to grab the reader’s attention and urgency
Read the excerpt below from a fictional story:
"The clock mocked him, its hands dragging as if time itself refused to move forward. Outside, the city hummed with life, each car and streetlamp whispering secrets to the night."
How does the use of personification contribute to the author's purpose in this passage?
A. It emphasizes the protagonist's frustration and impatience.
B. It suggests that the city is alive and has magical powers.
C. It highlights the importance of time in the character’s decision.
D. It serves only as decorative language with no deeper meaning.
A. It emphasizes the protagonist's frustration and impatience
Read the sentence from the passage:
"The city was like a restless ocean, waves of people crashing into one another on the crowded sidewalks."
How does this simile help the author achieve their purpose?
A. It emphasizes the chaotic and energetic nature of the city.
B. It suggests that the city is a quiet and peaceful place.
C. It highlights the importance of water in urban planning.
D. It shows that the author dislikes the ocean.
A. It emphasizes the chaotic and energetic nature of the city.