Passage Picker

1 Historical Passage:

(p. 13, par. 5) “In those days . . . into the clouds.”

I picked this passage because it was historical. It is a historical passage because it talks about how America was at the start of its new life. It discusses how many trees were in America and how it was necessary to cut them down because the people of America needed so many things.

Question: How does it help your understanding of the story of Paul Bunyan to know a little about the history of America during this time period?

It helps your understanding of the story because it gives the reader a reference and a specific time period to think about the story. Knowing that in those days there was a real need for lumberjacks and for cutting down trees, the reader can better understand why Paul Bunyan was such a help to the people of America.

Author’s Purpose: To Inform

2 Figurative Language Passages (simile and metaphor):

1) (p. 17, par. 4) “Babe lowered . . . hills.”

I picked this passage because it is so descriptive. I love the fact that it includes a simile: “His muscles stood out like rows of blue hills.” You are able to picture what Babe must have looked like with good figurative language like that.

Question: Why do you feel like this is a good or a bad way to describe Babe?

I feel like it is a good way to describe Babe because it shows how big she is. Since her muscles look like hills, the reader can automatically sense how massive she is.

Author’s Purpose: To Describe

2) (p.22, par. 6) “When Paul . . . like grass.”

I picked this passage because it also contains a simile. It describes the fir and redwoods and how they fall like grass after Paul cuts them down. This helps the reader be able to picture how Paul chopped the trees down. He chopped them down so easily and so quickly that the trees fell helplessly to the ground like grass. Being able to compare something as huge and gigantic to grass helps the reader better understand how massive Paul is as well.

Question: How would the passage be different if it compared the tress to huge skyscrapers falling down instead of grass?

If the author had compared the trees falling down to skyscrapers instead of grass then we as readers would have a whole different view of what Paul had done. Instead of something easily cut down, like grass, we would be thinking of how hard it must have been for Paul to have had to cut down those trees since skyscrapers are not easily leveled.

Author’s Purpose: To Describe

1 On Your Own Passage:

(p. 11, par. 1) “Some people . . . his sleep.”

I picked this passage because it is so surprising and full of fantasy. It is surprising because no man can stick trees into his pocket or blow birds out of the air when he sneezes. It was surprising to read about a man who could do these things. It is also a passage full of fantasy because in real life no one could do those things.

Question: Why does it help the rest of the story to introduce Paul in such a surprising way?

It helps the rest of the story because by introducing Paul in such a surprising way, readers can get a sense and understanding of how the rest of the story will be . . . full of fantasy and surprises.

Author’s Purpose: To Entertain

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