Question

analyzing figurative language

use the highlighter to identify the figurative language in the stanza.

how dreary to be somebody!
how public, like a frog
to tell your name the livelong day
to an admiring bog!

• \im nobody! who are you?\, emily dickinson

what is the effect of dickinsons figurative language? choose the best answer.

it makes people who are famous look like frogs relaxing in a luxurious bog.
it makes people who dont want to be famous look like frogs sitting in a bog.
it makes people who want their name to be known look like frogs calling out to a bog.

Explanation:

Analyze the simile in the stanza

The stanza uses the simile "like a frog" to describe someone who is "public" and "somebody" (famous), croaking their name all day long to an "admiring bog" (the public audience).

Evaluate the options based on the simile's meaning

• Option 1 suggests famous people look like frogs relaxing in luxury, which misinterprets the active, dreary croaking.
• Option 2 suggests it describes people who do not want to be famous, which is incorrect because the simile targets the "somebody" (the public/famous person).
• Option 3 correctly identifies that the simile compares those who want their name to be known (famous people) to frogs calling out to a bog.

Answer:

• It makes people who are famous look like frogs relaxing in a luxurious bog.
• It makes people who don't want to be famous look like frogs sitting in a bog.
• It makes people who want their name to be known look like frogs calling out to a bog. (Correct answer)