Figurative Language - Night

Question 1

“They think I’m mad,” he whispered, and tears, like drops of wax, flowed from his eyes.

Answer 1

“They think I’m mad,” he whispered, and tears, like drops of wax, flowed from his eyes

Simile

Question 2

The barbed wire that encircled us like a wall did not fill us with real fear

Answer 2

The barbed wire that encircled us like a wall did not fill us with real fear

Simile

Question 3

The shadows around me roused themselves as if from a deep sleep silently in every direction

Answer 3

The shadows around me roused themselves as if from a deep sleep silently in every direction

Simile

Question 4

By ten o’clock, everyone was outside. The police were taking roll calls, once, twice, twenty times

Answer 4

By ten o’clock, everyone was outside. The police were taking roll calls, once, twice, twenty times

Hyperbole

Question 5

His very presence in the procession was enough to make the scene surreal. It was like a page turn from a book, a historical novel.

Answer 5

His very presence in the procession was enough to make the scene surreal. It was like a page turn from a book, a historical novel.

Simile

Question 6

Gapping doors and windows looked out into the void. It all belonged to everyone since it no longer belonged to anyone. It was there for the taking. An open tomb

Answer 6

Gapping doors and windows looked out into the void. It all belonged to everyone since it no longer belonged to anyone. It was there for the taking. An open tomb

Metaphor

Question 7

Monday went by like a small summer cloud, like a dream in the first hours of dawn.

First part

Answer 7

Monday went by like a small summer cloud, like a dream in the first hours of dawn.

Simile

Question 8

Monday went by like a small summer cloud, like a dream in the first hours of dawn.

Part 2

Answer 8

Monday went by like a small summer cloud, like a dream in the first hours of dawn.

Simile

Question 9

We settled in. I went looking for wood, my sisters lit a fire.

Answer 9

We settled in. I went looking for wood, my sisters lit a fire.

Idiom

Question 10

The synagogue resembled a large railroad station: baggage and tears

Answer 10

The synagogue resembled a large railroad station: baggage and tears

Personification

Question 11

“Jews, listen to me. I see a fire! I see flames, huge flames!” It was as though she were processed by some evil spirit

Answer 11

“Jews, listen to me. I see a fire! I see flames, huge flames!” It was as though she were processed by some evil spirit

Simile

Question 12

We were walking slowly, as one follows a hearse, our own funeral procession

Answer 12

We were walking slowly, as one follows a hearse, our own funeral procession

Simile

Question 13

At every step, white signs with black skulls looked down on us

Answer 13

At every step, white signs with black skulls looked down on us

Personification

Question 14

We shall all see the day of liberation. Have faith in life, a thousand times faith

Answer 14

We shall all see the day of liberation. Have faith in life, a thousand times faith

Hyperbole

Question 15

The dentist, a Jew from Czechoslovakia, had a face not unlike a death mask

Answer 15

The dentist, a Jew from Czechoslovakia, had a face not unlike a death mask

Simile

Question 16

One day when Idek was venting his fury, I happened to cross his path. He threw himself on me like a wild beast, beating me in the chest

Answer 16

One day when Idek was venting his fury, I happened to cross his path. He threw himself on me like a wild beast, beating me in the chest

Simile

Question 17

At first, my father simply doubled over under the blows, but then he seemed to break in two like an old tree struck by lightning

Part 1

Answer 17

At first, my father simply doubled over under the blows, but then he seemed to break in two like an old tree struck by lightning

Idiom

Question 18

At first, my father simply doubled over under the blows, but then he seemed to break in two like an old tree struck by lightning

Part 2

Answer 18

At first, my father simply doubled over under the blows, but then he seemed to break in two like an old tree struck by lightning

Analogy

Question 19

Hundreds of eyes were looking at the two cauldrons of soup, shining with desire. Two lambs with hundreds of wolves lying in wait for them. Two lambs without a shepherd, free for the taking.

P1

Answer 19

Hundreds of eyes were looking at the two cauldrons of soup, shining with desire. Two lambs with hundreds of wolves lying in wait for them. Two lambs without a shepherd, free for the taking.

Analogy

Question 20

Hundreds of eyes were looking at the two cauldrons of soup, shining with desire. Two lambs with hundreds of wolves lying in wait for them. Two lambs without a shepherd, free for the taking.

P2

Answer 20

Hundreds of eyes were looking at the two cauldrons of soup, shining with desire. Two lambs with hundreds of wolves lying in wait for them. Two lambs without a shepherd, free for the taking.

Analogy

Question 21

The raid lasted more than one hour. If only it could have gone on for ten times ten hours

Answer 21

The raid lasted more than one hour. If only it could have gone on for ten times ten hours

Hyperbole

Question 22

That night, the soup tasted like corpses.

Answer 22

That night, the soup tasted like corpses.

Simile/hyperbole

Question 23

Thousands of lips repeated the benediction, bent over like trees in a storm

Answer 23

Thousands of lips repeated the benediction, bent over like trees in a storm

Simile

Question 24

Without love or mercy, I was nothing but ashes now, but I felt myself to be stronger than his Almighty to who had been bound for so long

Answer 24

Without love or mercy, I was nothing but ashes now, but I felt myself to be stronger than his Almighty to who had been bound for so long

Metaphor

Question 25

He was leaning against the wall, bent shoulders sagging as if under a heavy load.

Answer 25

He was leaning against the wall, **bent shoulders sagging as if under a heavy load.** Simile

Question 26

We needed to show God that even here, locked in hell, we were capable if singing His praises

Answer 26

We needed to show God that **even here, locked in hell,** we were capable if singing His praises Metaphor

Question 27

The race seemed endless; I felt as though I had been running for years

Answer 27

The race seemed endless; **I felt as though I had been running for years** Simile

Question 28

From the first hours of dawn, a glacial wind lashed at us like a whip

Answer 28

From the first hours of dawn, **a glacial wind lashed at us like a whip** Simile

Question 29

Three words, coming out of the grave, as it were, from the faceless shape, filled me with terror

Answer 29

**Three words, coming out of the grave,** as it were, from the faceless shape, filled me with terror  Hyperbole

Question 30

We’re there really going to allow Jews to hear the clock strike twelve?

Answer 30

We’re there really going to allow Jews to **hear the clock strike twelve?** Idiom

Question 31

But I couldn’t fall asleep. My foot was on fire so

Answer 31

But I couldn’t fall asleep. My foot was **on fire** Hyperbole/ idiom

Question 32

Death enveloped me, it suffocated me. It stuck to me like glue.

Answer 32

Death enveloped me, it suffocated me. **It stuck to me like glue.** Simile

Question 33

We were stronger than cold and hunger, stronger than the guns and the desire to die, doomed and ruthless, nothing but numbers, we were the only men on earth

Answer 33

We were stronger than cold and hunger, stronger than the guns and the desire to die, doomed and ruthless, nothing but numbers, **we were the only men on earth** Hyperbole

Question 34

The dead remained in the yard, under the snow without even a marker, like fallen guards

Answer 34

**The dead remained in the yard, under the snow without even a marker, like fallen guards** Simile

Question 35

There was shoving and jostling as if this were the ultimate Haven, the gateway to life

Answer 35

**There was shoving and jostling as if this were the ultimate Haven**, the gateway to life Simile

Question 36

He was playing his life. His whole life being was gliding over the strings

Answer 36

He was playing his life. **His whole life being was gliding over the strings** Metaphor

Question 37

We threw blankets over our shoulders, like prayer shawls

Answer 37

We threw **blankets over our shoulders, like prayer shawls** Simile

Question 38

Press tightly against one another, in an effort to resist the cold, our heads empty and heavy, our brains a whirlwind of decaying memories

Answer 38

Press tightly against one another, in an effort to resist the cold, our heads empty and heavy, **our brains a whirlwind of decaying memories** Metaphor

Question 39

Twenty corpses were thrown from our wagon. The train resumed its journey, leaving and its wake, in a snowy field in Poland, hundreds of naked orphans without a tomb

Answer 39

Twenty corpses were thrown from our wagon. The train resumed its journey, leaving and its wake, in a snowy field in Poland, **hundreds of naked orphans without a tomb** Metaphor

Question 40

Men were hurling themselves against each other, trampling, tearing at and mauling each other. Beasts of prey unleashed, animal hate in their eyes

Answer 40

Men were hurling themselves against each other, trampling, tearing at and mauling each other. **Beasts of prey unleashed,** animal hate in their eyes Metaphor

Question 41

His eyes lit up, a smile, like a grimace, illuminated his ashen face. And was immediately extinguished. A shadow had lain down beside him

Answer 41

His eyes lit up, a smile, like a grimace, illuminated his ashen face. And was immediately extinguished. **A shadow had lain down beside him** Metaphor

Question 42

The lament was contagious. And now hundreds of cries rose at once. The death rattle of an entire convoy with the end approaching.

Answer 42

The lament was contagious. And now hundreds of cries rose at once. **The death rattle of an entire convoy** with the end approaching. Metaphor

Question 43

I shall never forget the gratitude that shone in his eyes when he swallowed this beverage. The gratitude of a wounded animal

Answer 43

I shall never forget the gratitude that shone in his eyes when he swallowed this beverage. **The gratitude of a wounded animal** Metapheo

Question 44

My hands were aching, I was clenching them so hard. To strangle the doctor and the others! To set the whole world on fire! My fathers murderers!

Answer 44

My hands were aching, I was clenching them so hard. To strangle the doctor and the others! **To set the whole world on fire!** My fathers murderers! Hyperbole

Question 45

I decided to look at myself in the mirror on the opposite wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me.

Answer 45

I decided to look at myself in the mirror on the opposite wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. **From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me.** Metaphor