Language Features in "Two Wolves" - Simple Vocabulary

"Low shrubs and bristly bushes scratched at his legs as he pulled Olive through. Dragged her." Ch 24

• The use of strong verbs emphasizes the difficult movement through the bushes.

• The sentence uses only weak verbs to describe the action.

• The fragment 'Dragged her.' indicates a gentle action.

• The passage focuses on Olive's active role in the movement.

"I look like a toilet brush!" Ch 3

• Simile: Creates a funny but negative image of Ben's hair because it compares the spiky cut directly to the unpleasant shape of a toilet brush.

• Metaphor: Suggests that Ben's hair is as hard as a toilet brush.

• Hyperbole: Exaggerates the appearance of Ben's hair to make it seem more ridiculous.

• Personification: Gives human traits to Ben's hair, making it seem alive.

"Adrenaline streaked through him." Ch 4

• It describes a slow and calm feeling.

• It uses ‘streaked’ as a metaphor to show the adrenaline hitting Ben very fast and suddenly.

• It indicates that Ben is feeling tired and lethargic.

• It suggests that Ben is experiencing a gradual build-up of adrenaline.

The cold pinching him.

• Strong Verb / Personification / SD (Tactile): Describes the cold using 'pinching' because this makes the physical feeling of intense cold seem sharp and painful.

• Metaphor: Compares the cold to a sharp object without using 'like' or 'as'.

• Simile: Describes the cold as if it were a living entity that can cause pain.

• Imagery: Uses descriptive language to evoke a sensory experience of cold.

"The jam was lava on his tongue..." Ch 1

• Metaphor: Shows the jam is extremely hot by directly calling it 'lava', giving a strong feeling of heat because readers know lava is burning hot.

• Simile: Compares the jam to lava, suggesting it is hot but not directly stating it is lava.

• Personification: Gives the jam human-like qualities, implying it can burn like lava.

• Hyperbole: Exaggerates the heat of the jam by saying it is like lava, emphasizing its temperature.

The rain roared in his ears and thunder made the ground quake...

• Personification/Metaphor ('rain roared') / SD (Auditory, Tactile): Uses 'roared' and 'quake' because these strong words convey the loud sound and physical impact of the powerful storm.

• Simile: Comparing the rain to a lion's roar to emphasize its ferocity.

• Hyperbole: Exaggerating the sound of the rain to suggest it was deafening.

• Imagery: Creating a vivid picture of the storm using descriptive language.

The couch cushions smelt mouldy and felt itchy.

• Sensory Detail (Olfactory & Tactile): Uses specific unpleasant smells and feelings because these details quickly establish the motel room as uncomfortable and rundown.

• Sensory Detail (Visual): Describes the bright colors and modern furniture to create a welcoming atmosphere.

• Sensory Detail (Auditory): Focuses on the sounds of laughter and conversation to depict a lively environment.

• Sensory Detail (Gustatory): Highlights the delicious flavors of the food served in the motel's restaurant.

Mangled steel. That’s what he dreamed of...

• Imagery (Visual) / Fragment: Uses the powerful visual 'Mangled steel' and the fragment structure because this creates an immediate, impactful picture linked to Dad's destructive influence.

• Symbolism: Represents strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

• Metaphor: Suggests that dreams can be as hard and unyielding as steel.

• Alliteration: The repetition of the 'm' sound emphasizes the harshness of the imagery.

"His hand ached like when he was forced to write..." Ch 18

• Simile / SD (Tactile/Feeling): Compares the pain ('ached') to forced writing because this makes Ben's physical discomfort familiar and understandable to the reader.

• Metaphor: Suggests that writing is a painful experience without using 'like' or 'as'.

• Personification: Attributes human characteristics to the hand, making it seem like it has feelings.

• Hyperbole: Exaggerates the pain to emphasize the discomfort of writing.

"Dad spun the car around, laying rubber on the road." Ch 2

• Strong Verb (‘spun’) / Idiom (‘laying rubber’): Vividly conveys the speed and recklessness of Dad's driving maneuver, creating immediate drama because these words suggest speed and loss of control.

• Weak Verb: Indicates a slow and careful driving style.

• Metaphor: Suggests that Dad was driving in a straight line without any excitement.

• Simile: Compares Dad's driving to a calm and controlled experience.