We always started with the easy [words] I had already learned, and which I wrote down and read from the slate. The new ones I had to listen to first, putting them together as well as I could from the sounds. At the end of the lesson I had to listen to the formidable words that sounded more like trapezes in full swing.
Reread the simile. Describe how it helps you see and understand what the author is experiencing.
-Barrio Boy,
Ernesto Galarza
trapeze: a device used in gymnastics and acrobatics made up of a short horizontal bar attached to the ends of two parallel ropes.
The simile of the words sounding like trapezes in full swing helps the reader visualize and understand the author's experience of trying to listen and comprehend new, difficult words. The image of a trapeze suggests movement, speed, and unpredictability. Similarly, the author describes the formidable words as something that requires careful attention and mental agility to grasp. The comparison to trapezes emphasizes the challenge and complexity of learning these unfamiliar words, as well as the need for focus and concentration.
Can you answer it in 1-2 sentences
The simile helps the reader understand that the author is struggling to understand and remember difficult words by comparing them to fast-moving trapezes, highlighting the challenge and complexity of the task.
The simile used in the passage compares the difficult words the author has to learn with trapezes in full swing. This comparison helps the reader visualize and understand the author's experience of struggling with new words.
Like trapezes swinging back and forth, the formidable words are challenging and may feel unpredictable or overwhelming. The author's use of the simile conveys the sense of movement, intensity, and difficulty associated with learning these new words. By using this comparison, the author offers a vivid description of their experience and allows the readers to relate to the challenges of learning unfamiliar words.