Highlight the exemplar by finding the below:
- High modality words and sentence variation.
- Simile
- Metaphor
What effect do each of the above have on the listener/reader? Be detailed in your response and use examples.
Discuss, express and expand on ideas related to your story. My story is called Emmanuel Goes to Dinosaur Land, and it's nowhere near as gory as your story.
Characters My main character, Emmanuel, is a small boy that is excited to go on an excursion a place called Dinosaur Land - essentially Jurrasic Park but named differently. Emmanuel is small, he's a mouse - not literally - and some kids are bullying him on the bus about being eaten by a dinosaur. This makes him a little sad, but the thought of seeing dinosaurs cheers him up.
Settings
Events
The setting is pretty standard - the town itself is called Nangas and Dinosaur Land is on the edge of town. Nangas had a lot of eshays - those were the kids who were bullying Emmanuel on the bus. Otherwise, it's mostly just "bland green trees flanking the rest of the concrete jungle" making up the scenery.
The main plot event is pretty wholesome -
Emmanuel just seeing and describing dinosaurs. He does have a vision of a dinosaur eating one of the eshays, but he breaks out of the trance and decides, "I'm glad that he wasn't eaten by a dinosaur. He might be an eshay, but he at least deserves a second chance."
High modality words are words that denote certainty and strong likelihood, and sentence variation involves using different sentence structures to create a more engaging and dynamic narrative experience. In your story "Emmanuel Goes to Dinosaur Land," some high modality words could include "must," "will," "definitely," or "undeniably." These words help to establish certainty or strong conviction, which can be particularly impactful for emphasizing emotions and affirming the characters' beliefs or intentions. For example, "Emmanuel will definitely see a dinosaur today," conveys a strong assurance that can excite the reader and provide a contrast to Emmanuel's feelings of sadness.
Similes are a figure of speech that compare two different things using "like" or "as," which can provide vivid imagery and relatable comparisons to help readers visualize the scene or emotions. For instance, "Emmanuel felt as tiny as a mouse among giants," uses a simile that not only illustrates his physical smallness but also his feelings of insignificance compared to those around him.
Metaphors make a direct comparison between two unrelated things, stating that one is the other to highlight certain qualities without using "like" or "as." A metaphor in your story could be, "Emmanuel's heart was a drum, pounding with excitement and fear," which vividly describes his emotional state and the anticipation of what's to come without explicitly stating he was excited or fearful.
The effects these literary devices have on readers and listeners include creating a stronger connection to the story, allowing them to visualize scenarios and feel the emotions of the characters more intensely. It also keeps the audience engaged through varied sentence structures and compelling descriptions.
In discussing your story, the simile of Emmanuel being compared to a mouse not only creates a visual image but also ties into the deeper idea of feeling vulnerable and underestimated. The metaphor of his heart as a drum invokes an auditory element that brings Emmanuel's emotional state to life, allowing readers to better empathize with the character.
Further expanding on the story, you could explore Emmanuel's internal journey, how he copes with the bullying, and what he learns about courage and compassion in the face of adversity. The fact that he has a vision of a dinosaur eating one of the bullies but chooses empathy instead of retaliation could become a significant turning point in the story, marking his growth. Perhaps, the dinosaurs in Dinosaur Land could serve as a beautiful metaphor for Emmanuel's misunderstood feelings – they’re large and fearsome on the outside but have their own unique place in the world, just like his emotions and his right to enjoy the park despite what the bullies say.
The setting, with its juxtaposition of "bland green trees" and the "concrete jungle," may symbolically represent the blandness and harshness of reality against the magic and wonder of Dinosaur Land, drawing a parallel to Emmanuel’s inner world and the outer world he inhabits.
The story could explore themes of resilience, the power of imagination, and the importance of not judging others by their exteriors – all ideas inherent in Emmanuel's adventure to Dinosaur Land.