Directions: In three to five sentences, write an analysis of the short story
Interpret two figures of speech used in the short story. (1 pt)
Make sure to identify the word or figure of speech used in the short story. (1 pt)
Explain the deeper meaning of the figures of speech with text evidence (2 pts)
Paragraph should be written in complete sentence format and free of errors. (1 pt)
In a small fishing village nestled along the rugged coastline, there was an annual fishing contest that drew anglers from far and wide. Among the competitors were two old friends, Tom and Harry, who had been rivals since childhood. As they prepared their gear on the dock, Tom boasted to Harry, "I'm going to catch the biggest fish this year, no doubt about it. You might as well throw your line in the water and give up now! The Whopper of the West has my name written all over it.”
As the contest got underway, the fishermen scattered along the shore, casting their lines into the deep blue sea. Tom and Harry each found their own spots, determined to outdo one another. Hours passed, and the sun climbed high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the sparkling waters. Yet, despite their efforts, neither Tom nor Harry had caught anything worth boasting about.
Frustration began to mount as the hours ticked by. Tom grumbled to himself, "Well isn’t this the best Sunday ever!” Just as soon as Tom reeled in his line to call it a day, Harry saw his bobber go under. Harry struggled with the massive trout on the other end of the line, shouting as he reeled in his excitement!
In the short story, the figure of speech used is an idiom. Tom tells Harry, "You might as well throw your line in the water and give up now! The Whopper of the West has my name written all over it.” The idiom "has my name written all over it" is used to convey the idea that Tom is confident he will win the fishing contest. This figure of speech adds humor and exaggeration to Tom's boastful demeanor.
Another figure of speech used is a metaphor. When Tom grumbles, "Well isn’t this the best Sunday ever!” he is using the metaphor of Sunday as a representation of a day of rest and enjoyment. By sarcastically referring to the frustrating fishing contest as the best Sunday ever, the metaphor emphasizes Tom's disappointment and irritation with the situation.
Overall, these figures of speech enhance the story by adding depth to the characters' emotions and interactions. They show the contrast between Tom's overconfidence and eventual disappointment, as well as his sarcastic response to a frustrating situation.