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Lesson 5		 Understanding Literary Elements
 Objectives/Vocab/Tips > Examples: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 > Practice: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 > Self Check 
Example 2:

Instruction:

Here is one more question from Birdfoot's Grampa, by Joseph Bruchac. Keep the poem open while we go through the question and explanations.

Question:

A simile is a comparison that uses the word like or as. Example: His hair was white as snow.

Which of the following does the poet use a simile to describe?
Birdfoot's Grampa  

Remember to:

  • Read the question before reading the passage.
  • Look for the clues or hints in the poem to help you identify the speaker. Ask the question: "Who is the speaker?"
    Think to yourself:     There are two characters in the poem, the "Old Man" and the speaker who refers to himself as "I." (That means the poem is told from the first person point of view!) They are together because they are in "our car." The Old Man must be the grampa mentioned in the title. It makes sense that the other person is Birdfoot, because of the title too. Birdfoot refers to himself as "I" and so he is the speaker in the poem.

Think:

  • What are the key words in this question? (best describes, speaker, acts)
  • Use the choices to answer the question one at a time. "Is the speaker furious? How do I know that from the poem?"
  • Which choices can you eliminate right away, and which are possibly correct answers?
    Remember the "YES, NO, MAYBE" tool.
  • Can I prove my answer choice from details in the poem?

Multiple Choice Answers:

Yes
No
Maybe
  
Answers
A. The way the Old Man's hands look
B. The way the toads move
C. The way the Old Man kneels by the roadside
D. The way the car stops

Check your responses with these explanations:

Example 3 >>

 
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