The Unwatered Marigold - Imagery in literary texts (Grade 7)

The passage states, 'Her tomatoes hung from their vines like little red jewels.' This is a simile that creates a visual image of the tomatoes. The other options describe the zinnias, the marigold, and Martin's smile.

The text explicitly states, '...his shoulders slumped like a wilting flower themselves.' This simile directly compares his posture to a wilting flower to show his sadness.

This simile is used to convey the intensity of the heat. A 'heavy blanket' suggests a feeling of being weighed down and overwhelmed, which helps Daniela empathize with the wilting plant and Martin.

The passage states, '“It’s like a little yellow frown,” Daniela whispered to herself...' This is the specific imagery she uses to describe the plant initially.

This simile contrasts the 'clouds' of Martin's previous sadness with the 'sunlight' of his smile, suggesting that Daniela's small act of kindness brought a moment of happiness and relief.

The phrases are categorized based on the feelings they illustrate in the story's progression. 'A rainbow explosion' shows Daniela's pride and 'a little yellow frown' shows her judgment. 'Shoulders slumped' and 'pride felt hollow' represent Martin's disappointment and Daniela's shift towards empathy. 'Held out the can' is the act of compassion, and 'a crack of sunlight' is the resulting hope.

Each image is matched with the feeling or idea it evokes. 'Little red jewels' suggests value and perfection. 'Heavy blanket' conveys the feeling of intense heat. 'Soft footsteps' creates a sound image that shows Daniela is trying not to startle Martin. 'Cool water' provides a feeling of relief.