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. –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. Reread the simile. Describe how it helps you see and understand what the author is experiencing.
The simile of the formidable words sounding more like trapezes in full swing helps the reader see and understand the author's experience of struggling to comprehend and pronounce difficult words. Just like trapezes in full swing can be unpredictable, fast, and hard to grasp onto, the author finds the formidable words challenging and elusive. The simile emphasizes the difficulty the author faces in learning new words, as well as the sense of intimidation and the need for quick reflexes to keep up with the lesson.
I realized that this was our own electric light for us to turn on and off as we pleased. I pushed a chair under it and after some instruction from my mother proceeded to create lightning in the room by turning the switch as fast as I could.
After reading the passage from Barrio Boy, describe how the author uses connotations and figurative language to make his experience come to life.
The author uses connotations and figurative language to make his experience come to life by creating vivid imagery and evoking emotions associated with the concepts he's describing.
First, the author mentions the "electric light" as their own to turn on and off as they pleased. The connotation of an electric light, which is associated with brightness, illumination, and control, adds a sense of excitement and empowerment to the experience. It suggests that the author sees learning as a source of light and opportunity.
Then, the author describes pushing a chair under the light and creating "lightning in the room" by turning the switch rapidly. Here, the figurative language of lightning adds a dynamic and intense element to the scene. Lightning is usually associated with power, energy, and suddenness. By using this metaphor, the author not only brings the experience to life but also captures the intensity and thrill of his own learning process.
Overall, through the use of connotations and figurative language, the author adds depth and sensory details to his experience, making it more engaging and relatable to the readers.