Figurative Language

Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. 1. Page 3 - He seemed more a machine than a man, an extension of the plane. ...the pilot seemed the same way. Part of the plane, not human.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase "He seemed more a machine than a man" compares the pilot to a machine, indicating he lacks human qualities. This is a metaphor, as it directly states one thing is another, rather than using 'like' or 'as'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. 2. Page 13 - The pilot did not move except that his head rolled on a neck impossibly loose as the plane hit a small bit of turbulence.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase describes the pilot's head rolling in a way that attributes human-like qualities to it, which is characteristic of personification. It emphasizes the looseness of the neck, making it seem almost alive.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. 3. Page 28 - The plane, committed now to landing, to crashing, fell into the wide place like a stone, and Brian eased back on the wheel and braced himself for the crash.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase 'like a stone' compares the plane's descent to a stone falling, which is a clear example of a simile, as it uses 'like' to make the comparison.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. 4. Page 31 - The memory was like a knife cutting into him. Slicing deep into him with hate.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase 'like a knife cutting into him' uses 'like' to compare the memory to a knife, which is characteristic of a simile. Similes explicitly compare two different things using 'like' or 'as', making this the correct choice.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. 5. Page 33 - He tried to move, but pain hammered into him and made his breath shorten into gasps and he stopped, his legs still in the water.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase 'pain hammered into him' attributes human-like action to pain, which is an example of personification. This figurative language emphasizes the intensity of his suffering.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. 6. Page 34 - Be asleep, his mind screamed at the pilot.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase 'his mind screamed at the pilot' attributes human qualities to 'mind,' which is non-human. This is an example of personification, as it gives human-like actions to an abstract concept.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. 7. Page 36 - With it came some warmth, small bits of it at first, and with the heat came clouds of insects-thick, swarming hordes of mosquitoes that flocked to his body, made a living coat on his exposed skin, clogged his nostrils when he inhaled, poured into his mouth when he opened it to take a breath.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The passage uses metaphor by describing mosquitoes as a 'living coat' on the skin, suggesting an intense and overwhelming presence without using 'like' or 'as', which would indicate a simile.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Page 37 - And when the sun was fully up and heating him directly, bringing steam off of his wet clothes and bathing him with warmth, the mosquitoes and flies disappeared. Almost that suddenly. One minute he was sitting in the middle of a swarm; the next, they were gone and the sun was on him. Vampires, he thought.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase 'Vampires, he thought' suggests a comparison between the mosquitoes disappearing and vampires being repelled by sunlight. This is a metaphor, as it implies a deeper meaning without using 'like' or 'as'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Page 46 - But there was a log extending about twenty feet out into the water of the lake - a beaver drop from some time before - with old limbs sticking up, almost like handles.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase 'almost like handles' compares the old limbs to handles, which is a characteristic of a simile. A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to make comparisons, distinguishing it from metaphor and personification.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Gradually, like sloshing oil his thoughts settled back and the panic was gone.

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

Answer explanation

The phrase 'like sloshing oil' compares his thoughts to oil, using 'like' to create a simile. This indicates a direct comparison, distinguishing it from metaphor or personification.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D