The Hungry Looms - Personification in literary text (Grade 7)

In the passage, what does Tara call the looms?

• Hungry beasts

• Sleeping monsters

• Dancing shadows

• A weary river

Answer explanation

In the second paragraph, Tara explicitly says, 'I swear the looms are hungry beasts.'

According to the passage, what did the factory smokestacks do?

• Whispered secrets of hardship

• Began a battle against the darkness

• Coughed thick, black smoke

• Screamed to signal the end of the day

Answer explanation

The first paragraph states, 'Above them, the factory’s tall smokestacks coughed thick, black smoke into the bruised purple sky.'

Why does the author describe the wind as 'whispering secrets of hardship'?

• To show that the wind can actually talk.

• To suggest that the alley is a secret place.

• To make the setting feel more cheerful.

• To create a sad mood that reflects the characters' difficult lives.

Answer explanation

The personification of the wind 'whispering' about 'hardship' is used to enhance the gloomy and difficult atmosphere of the city, which mirrors the struggles of the characters.

What does the phrase 'the tired sun had already surrendered' mean?

• The sun was physically broken.

• The workers were angry at the sun.

• The sun had set for the evening.

• The sun was losing a fight with the clouds.

Answer explanation

This is a figurative way of saying the day was ending and the sun was going down. The sun is personified as being 'tired' and 'surrendering' to the night.

What is the main effect of Tara personifying the city as a 'giant, breathing machine'?

• It emphasizes how overwhelming and inhuman the environment feels.

• It shows that the city is an exciting and fun place to live.

• It suggests that the city is well-organized and efficient.

• It proves that Tara is imagining things because she is tired.

Answer explanation

By comparing the city to a machine, Tara expresses her feeling of being a small, insignificant part in a large, unfeeling system, which highlights the theme of survival in a harsh environment.

Match the personified object from the passage with the human-like quality or action it is given.

• Began a battle against the darkness

• The sun

• Screamed to signal the end of the day

• The gas lamps

• Surrendered and hid behind houses

• The looms

• Gobbled up thread with metal teeth

• The factory whistle

Answer explanation

Each object is matched with the specific personification used in the text: the whistle 'screamed' (Par. 1), the lamps began a 'battle' (Par. 3), the sun 'surrendered' (Par. 1), and the looms 'gobble up thread' (Par. 2).

Sort the following examples of personification from the passage into the categories that describe the feeling they create.

Groups:

(a) Creates a Sense of Threat or Hardship

,

(b) Creates a Sense of Hope or Resilience

• gas lamps began their nightly battle against the darkness

• looms are hungry beasts

• dancing shadows that seemed to chase each other playfully

• city was a growling giant

• wind snaked through the alley, whispering secrets of hardship

• smokestacks coughed thick, black smoke

Answer explanation

The phrases 'hungry beasts,' 'coughed smoke,' 'whispering secrets of hardship,' and 'growling giant' all give human or animal qualities that create a feeling of danger, illness, or difficulty. The 'dancing shadows' create a feeling of playfulness, while the 'nightly battle' of the lamps against darkness suggests resilience and hope.

Analyze how the author uses personification to develop the theme of survival and adaptation. Choose one example of personification from the passage that describes the harsh environment and one example that shows hope or adaptation. For each example, quote the phrase and explain how it contributes to the overall theme.

Answer explanation