PASSAGE PICKER EXAMPLE
Figurative Language (Simile) 1. Pick out the passage you would like to share with your group and write down the page and paragraph numbers.
page 12, paragraph 6 through page 13, paragraph 1 2. Write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.
“Downstairs, I . . .” and “. . .the cornstalks.” 3. The passage is a great example of a simile (figurative language) type of passage.
4. This passage is a figurative language type of passage because it contains a simile. The author compares “clouds . . . blowing away” to “gray rags on a washing line,” using the word “like.”
5. Thinking Question
What does this image say about the weather? What does it imply about the mood?
The clouds were being compared to gray rags so the clouds are gray and wispy. The sky was overcast and dark, implying a dark, somber mood. It may be the calm before the storm, meaning that something is about to happen. This passage uses weather to symbolize the emotions that Sam is experiencing. He is quiet, about to see a great change, and his thoughts are moving rapidly like the gray rags.
Figurative Language (Simile)
1. Pick out the passage you would like to share with your group and write down the page and paragraph numbers.
page 5, paragraph 4 2. Write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.
“He took . . .” and “. . .he’s right.” 3. The passage is a great example of a simile (figurative language) type of passage.
4. This passage is a figurative language type of passage because it contains a simile. The author compares Sam’s eyes to hawk’s eyes and his ears to rocks using the word “like.”
5. Thinking Question
Based on this passage, what can you infer that Harold thinks of Sam? What does this simile mean about Sam character?
Harold probably doesn’t like Sam too much if he uses similes that have a negative nature. A hawk’s eyes are sharp and watchful so that he can catch his food and stay away from predators. Sam is very observant like the hawk, which can be seen when Sam spies on his little brother teaching Harold to read. Rocks don’t have ears, so they can’t listen. When this is applied to Sam, he only hears what he wants to and blocks out the rest. Sam would probably have known about the move to the West if he had listened to Harold and his intuition (feelings).
Foreshadowing 1. Pick out the passage you would like to share with your group and write down the page and paragraph numbers.
page 22, paragraph 1 and 2 2. Write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.
“ ‘Hush!’ Ma . . .” and “. . .did before.” 3. The passage is a great example of a foreshadowing type of passage.
4. This passage is a foreshadowing type of passage because the author specifically points out that Ma’s behavior is unusual and Sam’s character states that this is “the first change.”
5. Thinking Question
Compared to Ma’s usual behavior (quiet and not outspoken), how does this behavior differ? What might you predict that Ma’s behavior will be like in the future, in the West?
Ma raised her voice and told the men to be quiet. Then she proceeded to scold them like children. I predict that she will have more of a say in her life in the West. She may have more and different duties on the journey and on the new farm.
Persuasive
1. Pick out the passage you would like to share with your group and write down the page and paragraph numbers.
page 4, paragraph 8 through 9 2. Write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.
“Not exactly . . .” and “. . .leave Kentucky.” 3. The passage is a great example of a persuasive type of passage.
4. This passage is a persuasive type of passage because Billy tries to persuade Sam that Harold is right about the family moving West. This is persuasive to Sam because he has seen the things Harold told Billy about, but Sam didn’t want to believe this could be true.
5. Thinking Question
What could Billy say to persuade Sam even more that they would be moving? Write at least two things that would make Sam want to leave for the West.
Since Sam likes to fish, Billy could tell him that there would probably be lots of great fishing streams. There might also be wolves so Pa would almost have to buy Sam a rifle. Billy might also point out that the land is great for farming, so think of how rich they would be after only a little while on new land.
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