The Very Tiny House (Similes & Metaphors)

The Very Tiny House (Similes & Metaphors)

by Bryce Baker

Open Ended

There once was a farmer and his wife who lived in a very tiny house in a beautiful valley near a lovely green forest. They were as happy as a king and queen working each day on their farm. They enjoyed their time together. During the day they worked in the fields and cared for their animals. In the evenings, they took turns preparing dinner, and afterward, they would play games or make up songs to sing to each other. They were two peas in a pod who liked the same things and enjoyed the same activities.

Identify a simile or metaphor from the text.

What is the meaning?

Open Ended

There was one thing, however, on which they disagreed. As much as she loved the farm and their beautiful surroundings, the wife felt that their tiny house was too small for them. She wanted to have room for a piano to accompany them on their sing-alongs. Because they both liked to cook, she thought they should have a larger kitchen with a big stove and pantry to store their food. “This house is a closet,” she told her husband.

Identify a simile or metaphor from the text.

What is the meaning?

​Now, the small space did not bother the farmer as much as it did his wife. They had no room for a piano, but he could play guitar while they sang. Although their kitchen was tiny, he was happy to barbeque outdoors. However, he wanted his wife to be happy. “What can I do to get a bigger house?” he asked himself.

Open Ended

The farmer thought their banker might show him how he could get a larger house. He asked the banker, who said, “Let’s check your savings.” The bank account, however, was as empty as an old tin can. There was no money to buy another house.

Identify a simile or metaphor from the text.

What is the meaning?

Open Ended

Next, the farmer thought about building more rooms onto the tiny house. He asked his friend the carpenter for advice. “Yes, you can do that,” said his friend. With some old tools and wood from the forest, the farmer began building. Now, he was good at growing crops and taking care of animals, but he was not a carpenter. He thought he had built a fine wall, but it crumbled like a cookie.

Identify a simile or metaphor from the text.

What is the meaning?

​The farmer was becoming discouraged. He could not buy or build a bigger house, and his wife was still unhappy. He thought and thought and worried. “What can I do? Who else can I ask?” he wondered. At last, he had another idea. He would consult Owl, the wisest creature in the forest.

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Open Ended

So, one night the farmer crept out of the house as quietly as a mouse. He found Owl perched in the oldest tree in the forest. Owl’s eyes were glowing golden jewels that gazed down at the farmer. He listened patiently to the farmer and then he gave the farmer a plan.

Identify a simile or metaphor from the text.

What is the meaning?

​In the morning, the farmer brought the family’s cow into the tiny house. His wife became so upset she was a storm cloud ready to rain. There was no room in the house for a cow she told him. Her husband said that the cow would be happier in the house and would give more milk. The next day, he brought in ten fat chickens. He said that they would lay more eggs inside the cozy house. On the following day, three fluffy sheep came to live in the house. Their wool would keep everyone warmer on cool nights, the farmer told his wife.

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Open Ended

This continued until the farmer and his wife were also living with several goats and a very old horse. Hens laid eggs on the chairs and goats gobbled up the blankets. The farmer’s wife was happy with the extra eggs and gallons of milk. After several days, however, she exploded. “Our house is a shoebox!” she told her husband. He couldn’t hear her because of all the noise in the animal-filled house.

Identify a simile or metaphor from the text.

What is the meaning?

​Then one night, while she slept, the farmer quietly herded all of the animals out of the house and back to the barnyard. This was the last part of the plan that Owl had given him. When his wife woke up, she could not believe her eyes. The very tiny house no longer seemed tiny at all. The farmer and his wife smiled. He picked up their guitar and they sang a long and happy song.

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