Read the following passage and identify at least 3 elements of figurative language; explain how each element brings out the theme of the passage.
"The Wrong Place" by Susan Michalski
Lana woke up, curled in a corner of the seat at the back of the train. She lifted the shade to see that the sun had hidden itself in a bank of clouds fluffy as the eiderdown her mother had wrapped her in as a child. Her darling Ted, a military man with a distinguished career, had gone to Philadelphia on some urgent business. Before he left, she knitted him a red cap and scarf to keep him warm. Finally, when she could wait no longer, she too packed a bag and boarded the northbound train.
The low and constant rumble under her feet lulled her into a daydream. She closed her eyes and stretched out beside her husband on their big white bed. The heat of his body warmed her, and she laughed at the rumbling of his snores.
A violent jolt threw Lana to the car floor and brought her back to the moment. Seconds later, the deafening grind of steel on steel tore through the train. Bags and people tumbled like mad acrobats all around her, but Lana remained wedged under her seat. When the movement ceased, all that remained was an endless sea of sound. Screaming, pounding, hissing noises assaulted Lana from all sides. In desperation she pushed her way free from the mangled seat and clawed her way out.
The train lay in pieces, scattered about like a toy tossed by a petulant child. An entourage of uniformed men prowled around the wreckage. Lana grabbed the arm of one as he hurried past, "What... ?" She couldn't form the words to ask.
"A bomb, Miss, the President was on the train —." The man's voice trailed off as he continued his explanation. Across the expanse of the field, a man on horseback darted in and out of the trees heading toward a road on the other side of the trestle that the train had somehow cleared despite the explosion. A flash of red caught Lana's eye. She raced toward it, leaving the guard in mid-sentence. She closed the distance surprisingly quickly because of the hill and her angle of descent, but she was no match for the horse who made it to the trestle in time for a second fireball to fill the sky. Wood and metal rained down on the rider. Lana fell to the ground and covered her head waiting for the earth to be still. Finally, she crawled to where a red scarf that had flown from the neck of the horseman lay a few yards away. She inhaled the scent and wept. "Oh, my Teddy! I am so sorry! Whatever were you doing here?"
I see a simile in the first paragraph. It emphasizes the difference between horror and comfort.
What figurative language do you see?
I don't know can you help me please
I see the simile where it says:She lifted the shade to see that the sun had hidden itself in a bank of clouds fluffy as the eiderdown her mother had wrapped her in as a child. and also:Bags and people tumbled like mad acrobats all around her
what other figurative language is there?
1. Simile: The passage contains a simile when describing the bank of clouds as "fluffy as the eiderdown her mother had wrapped her in as a child." This simile brings out the theme of comfort and nostalgia, highlighting Lana's longing for the warmth and security of her childhood.
2. Metaphor: The passage also utilizes a metaphor when Lana visualizes herself lying beside her husband on their big white bed. This metaphor conveys the theme of happiness and domestic bliss, emphasizing Lana's deep connection and contentment with her husband.
3. Personification: Near the end of the passage, Lana falls to the ground and covers her head, "waiting for the earth to be still." This personification of the earth emphasizes the chaos and destruction caused by the explosion, adding to the theme of tragedy and the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In the given passage, there are three elements of figurative language used, each of which brings out the theme of the passage.
1. Simile: The author uses a simile when describing the clouds as "fluffy as the eiderdown her mother had wrapped her in as a child." This comparison creates a sense of comfort and nostalgia, highlighting the theme of innocence and protection. The simile also suggests a contrast between Lana's current situation on the train and the warmth and security of her childhood.
2. Metaphor: The author employs a metaphor when Lana is thinking about her husband and remembering their intimate moments on their big white bed. The passage states, "The heat of his body warmed her, and she laughed at the rumbling of his snores." This metaphorical language implies that Lana's husband brings her warmth, comfort, and happiness. It enhances the theme of love and companionship in the passage.
3. Hyperbole: Towards the end of the passage, the author uses hyperbole to describe the destruction caused by the bomb and subsequent explosion. The text states, "The train lay in pieces, scattered about like a toy tossed by a petulant child." This exaggerated comparison emphasizes the magnitude of the destruction and chaos caused by the event. It conveys the theme of sudden and violent disruption in Lana's life.
By using these three elements of figurative language, the author effectively enhances the theme of the passage by evoking emotions, creating vivid descriptions, and illustrating the impact of the events on Lana's life.