| “She had put so much starch in my dress it came up like a tent when I sat down.” | MetaphorMeaning it went up and floated outwards. |
| “The church was becoming stuffy, and it occured to me that Reverend Skyes intended to sweat the amount due out of his flock.” | MetaphorMeaning he planned to wait all day in excrutiating heat until they got all the money. |
| “Calpurnia, in her navy voile dress and tub of a hat, walked between Jem and me.” | MetaphorMeaning she had a big hat on that day. |
| “Aunt Alexandra was sitting on a rocking chair exactly as if she had sat there every day of her life.” | MetaphorMeaning she was very comfortable in her chair in their house. |
| “Aunty better watch how she talks-scratch most folks in Maycomb and they’re kin to us.” | HyperboleI’m sure some of the folks were related to the Finch’s, but not “most folks”. |
| “In the beginning its buildings were solid, its courthouse proud, its streets graciously wide.” | PersonificationA courthouse can’t be “proud”. |
| “Occasionsally someone would return from Montgomery or Mobile with an outsider, but the result caused only a ripple in the quiet stream of family resemblance.” | MetaphorMeaning it caused an upset. |
| “Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and me.” | SimileMeaning she fit in greatly with the Maycomb folk. |
| “Aunt Alexandra was standing stiff as a stork.” | SimileMeaning Aunt Alexandra was very stiff and straight. |
| “The blood in my legs began to flow again, and I raised my head.” | HyperboleThe blood really didn’t stop flowing through her legs. |
To Kill A Mockingbird: Figurative Language (Chapter 12 and 13)
January 31, 2020