Language Arts
“Authors choose their words for a reason. Change the words, and you can change the entire feeling.” — Lady Flawless
🎯 Your Mission
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Understand figurative language.
Determine what a phrase means in context.
Identify the tone of a passage.
Explain how word choice affects meaning and tone.
🎙️ Lady Flawless Intro
Lady Flawless steps forward:
“Champ, imagine someone says:
‘The interview lasted forever.’
Did it really last forever?”
She smiles:
“Probably not. The person means it felt extremely long.”
“Authors use words this way to help readers picture situations and feel emotions.”
⭐ Literal or Figurative?
Literal Language
The words mean exactly what they say.
The interview lasted one hour.
Figurative Language
The words communicate an idea beyond their exact meaning.
The interview lasted forever.
The interview felt unusually long.
🧠 Three Common Types
Simile
Compares two things using like or as.
Her voice shook like a leaf.
Metaphor
Describes one thing as if it were something else.
The workplace was a pressure cooker.
Personification
Gives a human action or quality to something nonhuman.
The clock stared down at him.
⭐ Focus on the Meaning
Lady Flawless explains:
“The GED may not simply ask you to name the type of figurative language. It may ask what the phrase means or how it affects the passage.”
Always ask:
What does the phrase mean?
What picture or feeling does it create?
Why did the author choose it?
⭐ What Is Tone?
Tone is the author’s or narrator’s attitude toward the subject.
Common tones include:
Hopeful
Tense
Critical
Humorous
Respectful
Frustrated
Serious
Encouraging
🧠 Tone vs. Mood
Tone
The attitude communicated by the author’s words.
Mood
The feeling the passage creates in the reader.
Lady Flawless explains:
“Tone belongs to the voice telling the story. Mood is what the reader feels.”
📖 Original Literary Passage
The Interview
At 8:55, Laila sat outside the interview room with her résumé resting across her knees. The clock above the reception desk crawled toward nine. Every click of the receptionist’s keyboard sounded like a hammer striking the desk.
Laila reviewed the opening sentence she had practiced, but the words seemed to disappear from her mind. She tightened her grip on the folder and took a slow breath.
The office door opened, and the manager called her name.
Laila stood. The fear still buzzed inside her, but it no longer controlled her steps. She lifted her head and walked into the room.
🎮Question 1
What does the phrase “the clock crawled toward nine” suggest?
A. The clock fell from the wall.
B. Time appeared to move very slowly.
C. The interview started early.
D. Laila could not read the clock.
✅ Correct Answer: B
The clock is not literally crawling. The phrase shows that time feels slow because Laila is nervous.
🎮Question 2
Why does the author compare the keyboard’s sound to “a hammer striking the desk”?
A. To show that the keyboard is broken
B. To explain the receptionist’s job
C. To emphasize how intense every sound feels to Laila
D. To suggest that someone is repairing the office
✅ Correct Answer: C
Laila’s nervousness makes an ordinary sound seem unusually loud and powerful.
🎮Question 3
What is the tone at the beginning of the passage?
A. Humorous and playful
B. Tense and anxious
C. Peaceful and relaxed
D. Angry and disrespectful
✅ Correct Answer: B
Words such as crawled, hammer, and tightened her grip create a tense tone.
🎮Question 4
How does the tone change at the end?
A. It changes from tense to determined.
B. It changes from hopeful to angry.
C. It changes from humorous to confusing.
D. It changes from peaceful to fearful.
✅ Correct Answer: A
Laila still feels fear, but she lifts her head and walks into the interview. Her actions create a more determined tone.
🔄 The Word-Replacement Test
Original sentence:
The clock crawled toward nine.
Changed sentence:
The clock moved toward nine.
Both sentences describe time passing, but crawled makes time seem slower and increases the tension.
Lady Flawless explains:
“One powerful word can change how the entire sentence feels.”
🚫 Watch Out for Tone Traps
Do not choose a tone just because:
One word seems emotional.
The answer describes your personal reaction.
The tone appears somewhere but not throughout the section.
The answer sounds positive or negative.
Study several words, actions, and details together.
🧠 Your Turn
Read this original passage:
By noon, the customer-service line had become a snake curling around the lobby. Several customers checked their watches and sighed. Maribel moved calmly from person to person, untangling each problem before calling the next customer forward.
What does the phrase “a snake curling around the lobby” suggest?
A. A dangerous animal entered the building.
B. The line was long and curved through the room.
C. The customers were afraid of Maribel.
D. The lobby was located outside.
✅ Correct Answer: B
What does “untangling each problem” suggest about Maribel?
A. She is creating additional problems.
B. She is solving complicated problems one at a time.
C. She is decorating the lobby.
D. She is refusing to help customers.
✅ Correct Answer: B
✍️ Prove Your Answer
Complete the response:
The phrase “____________” means ____________.
It creates a ____________ tone because ____________.
Possible Answer
The phrase “a snake curling around the lobby” means the line is long and curved. It creates a stressful tone because many customers are waiting.
⭐ Exit Ticket
Why should readers pay attention to an author’s word choices?
A. Word choices can affect the passage’s meaning and tone.
B. Longer words are always more accurate.
C. Every word has only one possible meaning.
D. Figurative language should always be interpreted literally.
✅ Correct Answer: A
🎤 Lady Flawless Outro
“Champ, words do more than provide information. They create pictures, attitudes, and emotions.”
“Find the figurative meaning, study the author’s word choices, and determine the tone those choices create.”