1 Figurative Language (metaphor)
Page 15, paragraph 3
"I studied ... a walnut."
This passage is a great example of a metaphor because it compares Gran's skin to a wrinkled walnut.
Why do you think that the author chose to use a walnut to describe Gran's skin? The author might have chosen to compare Gran's skin to a walnut in order to describe what Gran looked like. A walnut is wrinkled, brown and hard. This conveys to the reader that Gran is old and wrinkled. Her skin is brown from sun damage possibly from working long hours outdoors. A walnut is also hard which could mean the Gran has a strong character.
The author might have included this passage in the book so that the readers could picture Gran's physical appearance as well as begin to understand her character.
1 Descriptive
Page 15, paragraphs 7-10
"You angry ... I know."
This passage is a great example of informative and descriptive passage because it informs the reader how angry Nyle feels about the nuclear accident.
How would you feel if there was a nuclear accident where you lived and everything in your life changed? I would feel scared and helpless if there was a nuclear accident where I live. I would be scared because I would not know how it was going to affect life. For example, would I be contaminated and die? Would anyone I know be contaminated and die? I would also feel helpless because I would feel that I couldn't control the situation. I couldn't help all the people that might need me to help them. I couldn't change what had happened.
The author included this passage in the story to explain how Nyle felt about the accident. She also wanted for the readers to begin to examine how they might feel if something similar occurred to them.
1 Persuasive Passage
Page 18-19, paragraph (page 18)
14-15, (page 19) 1-3
"I know ... earth worthwhile."
This passage is an example of a persuasive passage because it convinces the reader that sometimes people have to do things they would rather not, especially if they aren't going to be around for long.
Do you agree or disagree with this passage? Do you do things that you would rather not? How would you treat Ezra? How would you want to be treated if you were Ezra? I agree with this passage because many times I have had to do things that I would rather not, however I do because I realize how it might help others if I do. If Ezra came to live with me, I might treat him the same way Nyle does for fear of feeling lonely once he died. However, if I were Ezra I would want people to treat me as a healthy boy. I would want my last days to be joyous and fun and happy. I wouldn't want people to ignore me because I would feel lonely and alienated from others.
I believe that the author included this passage in the book because she wanted to teach the readers a morale. She wanted the readers to know how sometimes we do things for others and be selfless.
1 On your own
No page number. The quotation
is located at the beginning in the book (Ross Hersey quotation).
"Look not ... in awareness." Ross Hersey.
This passage/quotation is a great example of an important thematic passage because is introduces an important lesson to be learned from Phoenix Rising; you cannot change the past but you can learn from the past and be conscious that the past never repeat itself.
How can you learn from the
past to help you make sure that the past does not repeat itself?
For example, it is important to
take an active stance in the security of nuclear power plants. One
action a person can take is to write to their political representatives
to make sure that proper measures are taken to protect the citizens in
the surrounding areas. If an accident is to occur, ask what measures
the nuclear power plant as well as the government has taken to evacuate
them and then help them survive both financially and well as physically.
It is important as a citizen to be politically active.
The author included this quotation in the book because it explains why she wrote the book. She wrote the book to tell the story of a nuclear power plant accident and how it affected the people living in the area. She wanted her readers to know that accidents such as these can occur and change each of our lives. She wants us to be aware of our surroundings so that accidents such as the one in Phoenix Rising do not occur again and if it does how we can learn from the characters in the book and respond differently than some of the characters as well as learn from others how to best treat people that have been affected by horrible accidents.