Figurative Language
sound of a word echoes the sound it represents
Onomatopoeia
Overall, when Xiomara encounters any type of hostility, rudeness, or aggression, what is her first reaction?
She becomes aggressive and violent in return.
She stops talking and tries to get out of the situation.
She lets her twin brother take charge and get her out of the situation.
She tries to keep her temper, but it doesn’t always work.
She becomes aggressive and violent in return.
repetition of sounds
alliteration
All of Xiomara’s mother’s decisions and reactions seem to focus on what?
ensuring that Xiomara does not have ‘relations’ with boys
making sure that Xiomara goes to church, becomes a nun, and confesses regularly
training Xiomara to keep a clean house for her husband when she gets older
guaranteeing that Xiomara will get into a good college when she graduates
ensuring that Xiomara does not have ‘relations’ with boys
a reference to history, an individual, or an idea that has significance and is well known
allusion
Overall, which of the following is the strongest reason the author does not want to go to Confirmation classes?
because she feels that the whole thing is a waste of her time
because she has too many questions about God that no one is willing to answer
because she knows that she has no interest in becoming a nun
because she has really never liked religion, even as a young child
because she has too many questions about God that no one is willing to answer
comparison of two different things without using like or as
metaphor
What does Xiomara believe that her mother would have been had she not been forced by her family to marry Xiomara’s father?
The author believes that her mother would have been a nun.
The author believes that her mother would have gone to college and had a career.
The author believes that her mother would have been a maid.
The author believes that her mother would have been a stay-at-home mother without a job.
The author believes that her mother would have been a nun.
exaggerated or overemphasized statements
hyperbole
How does Xavier act when he finds the flyer for the poetry club that Xiomara was trying to hide?
He laughs at her because he knows she is not a good poet.
He encourages her to share her genius.
He tells her that he will tell their mother.
He never says anything to let her know he saw it.
He encourages her to share her genius.
use of a word, place, or objects that means something beyond what they are on a literal level
symbolism
What does the following quote illustrate about the relationship between Xiomara and Xavier?
“My brother was birthed a soft whistle: quiet, barely stirring the air, a gentle sound. But I was born all the hurricane he needed to lift - and drop - those that hurt him to the ground.”
Xiomara hated that Xavier was so quiet and liked so much by their mother.
Xiomara felt it was her job to protect her brother because he was too gentle.
Xiomara knew that she was not as smart as Xavier, but she was much tougher.
Xiomara understood that she had to help their mother around the house and Xavier did not.
Xiomara felt it was her job to protect her brother because he was too gentle.
a more polite term used to replace something unpleasant or undesirable; a less harsh way of saying something
euphemism
Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the poem, “After”?
Listening to music and writing are Xiomara’s only ways to deal with her emotions.
No matter what she does or doesn’t do, she gets unwanted attention from men and boys.
She is an attractive young lady, and everyone thinks so.
She has a great sense of style, and it has gotten noticed around the neighborhood.
No matter what she does or doesn’t do, she gets unwanted attention from men and boys.
appeals to one of the senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing
imagery
What does the author mean when she describes herself saying that she had “...a silent mouth…until it’s sharp as an island machete.”
She doesn’t have much to say, but when she does, she says what she thinks, no matter how harsh or hard.
She doesn’t feel like she is ever able to express herself around her parents.
She tries not to talk, even when she feels like she is going to explode if she doesn’t say something.
She has been encouraged by her parents to stay quiet and not express her opinion.
She doesn’t have much to say, but when she does, she says what she thinks, no matter how harsh or hard.
contradictory statements or situations that reveal a reality that is different or opposite from what appears to be true
irony
What is the overall effect of Xiomara’s allusion to Medusa in “How I Feel about Attention”?
Xiomara believes that she is just as ugly and repulsive as Medusa.
The author believes that she is just not enough like her own parents.
Xiomara feels that her hair is like snakes coming from her head.
The author feels that she is both strong and cursed, just as Medusa was.
The author feels that she is both strong and cursed, just as Medusa was.
giving human characteristics to something nonhuman
personification
Which of the following quotes most clearly shows the author’s attitude about church?
“...Why does listening to his commandments/mean I need to shut down my own voice?”
“When I was little, /I loved Mass./The clanging tambourines/and guitar.”
“I’ve always stood with the other parishioners/at the end of Mass to receive the bread and wine.”
“I don’t want to take/the bread and wine, and Father Sean says/it should always and only be done with joy.”
“...Why does listening to his commandments/mean I need to shut down my own voice?”