Figurative Language
Name _____________________________________________ Period _____
“Fame is a Bee” by Emily Dickinson
“Fog” by Carl Sandburg
Reader’s Journey page 306
Online at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174299
Reader’s Journey page 306
Online at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182810
First Read: Get a General Impression of the poem.



How does it make you feel (MOOD)?
What is the TOPIC?
What IMAGE is left in your mind?
First Read: Get a General Impression of the poem.



How does it make you feel (MOOD)?
What is the TOPIC?
What IMAGE is left in your mind?
What are haunches?
Second Read: What Literary Device/Figure of Speech is being used?
Simile or Metaphor? How do you know?
Second Read: What Literary Device/Figure of Speech is being used?
Simile or Metaphor? How do you know?
Third Read: What is Author’s Message? What is he/she trying to say?
Third Read: What is Author’s Message? What is he/she trying to say?
What aspects of fame does Dickinson explore? What are fame’s
“song”, “sting”, and “wing”?
Why is a cat a good comparison for the fog? What feline
characteristics are used to describe the fog?
“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes
Directions: Read and use your own words to explain (paraphrase) each line of the poem.
Well, son, I’ll tell you: _______________________________________________________________
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. __________________________________________________
It’s had tacks in it. _________________________________________________________________
And splinters. ____________________________________________________________________
And boards torn up. _______________________________________________________________
And places with no carpet on the floor - ________________________________________________
Bare. ___________________________________________________________________________
But all the time ____________________________________________________________________
I’se been a-climbin’on ______________________________________________________________
And reachin’ landins, _______________________________________________________________
And turnin’ corners, ________________________________________________________________
And sometimes goin’ in the dark ______________________________________________________
Where there ain’t been no light. _______________________________________________________
So boy, don’t you turn back. __________________________________________________________
Don’t you set down on the steps ______________________________________________________
‘Cause you finds it kinder hard. _______________________________________________________
Don’t you fall now -- ________________________________________________________________
For I’se still goin’, honey _____________________________________________________________
I’se still climbin’ ____________________________________________________________________
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. _______________________________________________
1. In “Mother to Son,” which type of figure of speech is the line “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”? How can you
tell?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Reread “Mother to Son”. What qualities does the speaker demonstrate (show) through her words and actions.
Why does she need these qualities?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the speaker’s message to her son?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________