Figurative Language in Wonder
What is figurative language?
Task: For each assigned example of figurative language, go back to that page in the book and reread it. Then, in at least two sentences, explain why R.J. Palacio uses that literary device.
In other words, what is its purpose? What is its effect supposed to be on the reader? Why do you think the author chose this literary device?
Figurative Language in Wonder
1. Metaphor - “A Walk in the park.” p. 6
2. Hyperbole – “a million pieces” p. 7
3. Simile - “my head on Via’s lap like she was my pillow” p. 10
4. Simile – “like a lamb to the slaughter” p. 10
5. Personification – “her smile kind of hugged me” p. 11
6. Sarcasm – “Did you think we were going to the movies?” p. 16
7. Simile – “It (the school) smelled like a hospital.” p. 16
8. Hyperbole – “my heart literally started beating like I’d just run the longest race in
the world.” p. 20
9. Personification – “The laughter I had inside just poured out of me.” p. 20
10. Metaphor (and Simile) – “the butterflies in my stomach were more like pigeons flying around my insides.” p. 35
11. Simile – “Like a lamb to the slaughter” defined on p. 43
12. Symbolism – “Summer looked like her name.” p. 53
13. Simile – “her eyes were green like a leaf.” p. 53
14. Metaphor – “my tortoise mouth” p. 60
15. Metaphor – “Your deeds are your monuments” p. 65
16. Idiom – “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” p. 67
17. Metaphor – “August is the Sun. Me and Mom and Dad are planets orbiting
the Sun.” p. 82
18.Metaphor – “a shift in the cosmos. The galaxy is changing. Planets are falling out
of alignment.” p. 83
19. Simile – “I held on to that secret and let it cover me like a blanket.” p.87 Simile –
“like the drippings on the side of a candle.” p.88
20. Sarcasm – “Why would people be mean?” p.96
21. Idiom – “Bites the Dust” p.97 (Chapter title)
22. Idiom – “let her off the hook.” p.101
23. Simile/Idiom – “like two peas in a pod.” p.103
24. Personification – “made war on his face.” p.104
25. Metaphor – “This kid is Rated R.” p.127(Chapter title only)