Holling uses many instances of figurative language when recounting his story in The Wednesday Wars. Many of his exaggerated claims or dramatic comparisons lend humor to his tale. Storyboards can be a helpful way for students to explore these figurative meanings. Have students search for examples of metaphor, simile, personification, idiom, or hyperbole in the text. Next, ask them to depict each example and explain its meaning and significance below.
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration or overstatement for humor or emphasis |
"Of all the kids in the seventh grade at Camillo Junior High, there was one kid that Mrs. Baker hated with heat whiter than the sun. Me." |
|---|---|---|
| Simile | A comparison using 'like' or 'as' | "She slashed through my answers with a broad swathe of bright red ink. It looked like my test was bleeding to death." |
| Metaphor | An implied comparison between two things | "I was to come to the Principal's office ... I headed off to Death Row." |
| Personification | Giving human-like characteristics to non-human objects or abstract ideas | "There were the demon rats ... their eyes filled with the Big M - Murder! ... The faster I ran, the more their yellow hatred grew..." |
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows three examples of figurative language in The Wednesday Wars.
Engage students by starting with open-ended questions about the figurative language they’ve found while reading. Prompt them to share examples and discuss why the author might have used each device.
Ask students to relate figurative language in the book to their own lives. Have them think of times they’ve used or heard similar expressions and share with the class.
Divide your class into small groups and assign each group a passage with figurative language. Let them collaboratively identify the device, its meaning, and its effect on the story.
Invite students to write original metaphors, similes, or personification inspired by The Wednesday Wars. Encourage creativity and share their work with peers.
End the discussion with questions that help students reflect on how figurative language shapes the tone and meaning in the novel. This reinforces critical thinking and deeper comprehension.
Figurative language in The Wednesday Wars includes literary devices like metaphor, simile, personification, idiom, and hyperbole used by Holling to add humor, emphasis, and vivid imagery to the story.
Students can identify figurative language by looking for comparisons (similes, metaphors), exaggerations (hyperbole), and phrases where objects or ideas are given human qualities (personification) within the text. Highlighting and discussing these examples helps deepen understanding.
Examples include: Hyperbole: “Mrs. Baker hated with heat whiter than the sun.” Simile: “It looked like my test was bleeding to death.” Metaphor: “I headed off to Death Row.” Personification: “Their yellow hatred grew.”
Have students create a storyboard showing three figurative language examples from the book. Let them label the type (simile, metaphor, etc.), provide a quote, and illustrate each example. This visual activity is engaging and reinforces understanding.
Identifying figurative language helps middle school students improve reading comprehension, appreciate an author’s style, and develop skills to recognize deeper meanings and humor in literature.