All forms of literature use figurative language--even poems. Because poems are often quite short, they must create vivid images in the reader’s imagination in a very small space. Figurative language is a great way to do this!
As you read this poem, answer the questions beside it. They'll help you see how to identify figurative language in all literature, including poetry.
What is the narrator really asking in the poem’s opening line, Who bites whom for a living?
- Who causes someone physical pain?
- Who profits from the pain of others?
- Who bit the narrator?
- Who makes makes money by biting?
The line isn't really about the literal act of biting someone else--its about using people.
The line isn't really about the literal act of biting someone else--its about using people.
The line isn't really about the literal act of biting someone else--its about using people.
The line isn't really about the literal act of biting someone else--its about using people.
What is the line Who bends whose face into a picture of sadness an example of?
- exaggeration
- description
- a simile
- a metaphor
The line compares a crying face to a picture of sadness.
The line compares a crying face to a picture of sadness.
The line compares a crying face to a picture of sadness.
The line compares a crying face to a picture of sadness.
What is the line Who whines like a bird and who like a toothache an example of?
- a metaphor
- a lie
- a simile
- exaggeration
The line makes two comparisons using the word like.
The line makes two comparisons using the word like.
The line makes two comparisons using the word like.
The line makes two comparisons using the word like.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
Fault Lines
Who bites whom for a living,
and who skims the scrape off whose knee?
Who warms whom into evening,
and who pops whose blister, the skin bright for popping?
Who shields whom from the shadow’s big tree?
Who bends whose face into a picture of sadness?
Who hangs the frame in place on the wall
and who watches and helps with the crooked?
Who makes the coffee and whose mouth does it burn,
and whose mouth falls apart from the burn and who kisses it?
Who builds up the show with its shiny guitars and who stays home?
Who whines like a bird and who like a toothache?
Who blames it on distance and who on the front yard?
Who talks to the weather and who to the dog,
and who to the dog says who took him out last time?
Who sees the news and who thinks it’s about who?
Who lights some matches to flick them at who?
Who makes a noise like the time who was crying?
Laura Eve Engel
("Fault" was first published, in its original form and titled “Reciprocity,” in CincinnatiReview.)
