Examining Context-Average Joes

Examining Context

Task:

1. Identify details from the story that show/explain the following aspects of the social/historical context: (1) politics, (2) traditions,(3) foods, (4) values/beliefs, (5) other (add a fifth category of your own). 1.)The story talks about the Iranian Revolution and that when her family members moved to America after it happened they were not met with the same kindness as before. 2.)She says that when Halloween came around a family gave her a costume to wear during the Halloween parade. 3.)She talks about the Caspian Sea where the “famous caviar comes from” also known as fish eggs. 4.)Some beliefs that Americans had on Iran was that is was a giant desert and people there didn’t have electricity and rode camels. 5.)When Dumas’ family came to America they were treated with kindness as people didn’t know much about them but after the Iranian Revolution more people knew about Iran and in a negative way and they had prejudice towards them.

2. For each category, include a quote or detail from the text that demonstrates what you are   talking about. 1.) “They saw Americans who had bumper stickers on their cars that said, “Iranians go home” or “we play cowboys and Iranians.  2.) On Halloween, one family brought over a costume, knowing that I would surely be the only kid in the Halloween parade without one.” 3.)  “Most people in Whittier did not know about the famous caviar, and once we explained what it was, they’d scrunch up their faces. 4.)”We were also asked about electricity, tents, and the Sahara. Once again, we disappointed, admitting that we had electricity, that we did, that we did not own a tent, and that the Sahara was on another continent.”  5.)  “We remember the kindness more than ever”
3. Then discuss and write about how Dumas uses each detail to support an insight about America, American identity, and/or what it means to be an American immigrant.

Dumas claimed that being an American immigrant, the first few years. Yet the american kids were curious as they thought they didn’t have cars in Iran so they asked Dumas about camels. The kids also thought Iranians were poor living in tents without electricity. Some american children were naive and asked how to say some bad things in Iranian, Dumas had them say “I am an idiot!”. Around the end before they left to go to Iran for a couple years the Americans treated Dumas and her family with great kindness.

Figurative Language-Average Joes

Figurative Language

Background-Humor: language that is used imaginatively rather than maturity is called figurative language. Writers often use language to make their ideas more vivid and rich. Since figurative language involves surprising contrast, writers also use it to make their writing funny. In this memoir, Dumas uses three types of figurative language—metaphor, simile, and hyperbole—to add zest her to her story.

Task 1: Define and write an example for each of the following terms. The examples should be original: from your head, not the internet or the text.

1. Metaphor-a figure of speech, “I fell in a black hole of sadness
2. Simile-a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind---tough as a bear, brave as a tiger
3. Hyperbole-exaggerated statements not meant to be taken seriously---The baseball team won like 1000 to 6.

Task 2: Read the examples of figurative language from the text, “With a Little Help from my Friends.” Determine which type of figurative language each is and then explain the effect that each use of figurative language has on the story/idea.

1. My life became one long running Oprah show, minus the free luxury accommodations in Chicago, and Oprah (paragraph 1). A simile, because she is comparing her life to an oprah show.
2. I tried my best t be a worthy representative of my homeland, but, like a Hollywood celebrity relentlessly pursued by paparazzi, I sometimes got tired of the questions (paragraph 9).A hyperbole because she is comparing her life to the life of a hollywood celebrity.
3. This  avalanche of kindness did not make our impending departure any easier (paragraph 16).Metaphor because she is using “avalanche” as a figure of speech saying that they were receiving so much kindness.
4. If someone had been able to encapsulate the kindness of the second-graders in pill form, the pills would undoubtable put many war correspondents out of business (paragraph 15).Hyperbole because it’s saying that a kindness pill to give people the kindness of the 2nd graders would put an end to wars.