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)
(5 pts) Click here for RUBRIC
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!
One figure of speech used in the short story is the phrase "give up now," which is an idiom. This phrase is used by Tom to express his confidence in winning the fishing contest and to taunt Harry. The deeper meaning behind this figure of speech is that Tom is trying to intimidate Harry by implying that he has no chance of winning, despite the uncertainty of the outcome.
Another figure of speech used is the metaphor "The Whopper of the West has my name written all over it." This metaphor is used by Tom to emphasize his belief that he will catch the biggest fish in the contest. The deeper meaning behind this figure of speech is that Tom feels destined to win and has a strong sense of confidence in his abilities as a fisherman, even though the actual outcome of the contest is uncertain.
In conclusion, the use of these figures of speech adds depth and emotion to the interactions between the characters in the story, highlighting their competitive nature and the underlying tension between them.