Read the story “Bailey’s Escape” below.

Question

Rewrite the story and add in the types of sensory and figurative language listed below. You should have two examples of imagery and one example each of simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, and oxymoron. (16 total points)

“Bailey’s Escape”

Kayla gasped for air. She knew if she stopped now, she may not see Bailey again. The little dog had leaped over the fence when the fireworks started and took off down the street. He obviously did not care for the fireworks.

Kayla turned the corner onto Applegate Avenue when she heard a sound. Kayla stood still, listening for Bailey. Sure enough, she heard a few small yips coming from the Jackson’s open garage. Kayla walked toward the Jackson’s house. A moment later, Mrs. Jackson met Kayla on the front walk holding Bailey.

“Thank you so much,” said Kayla. “I’ve been chasing him!”

“Well, I don’t blame him for running,” Mrs. Jackson replied, handing the dog back to Kayla. “Those loud sounds have been getting on my nerves too.”

Kayla walked home holding Bailey to keep him from squirming away. Once they were back inside the safety of their house, Kayla put Bailey in his dog bed and he settled down.

Rewrite the story to add sensory and figurative language as directed in the instructions above Remember to highlight and label each phrase or sentence that you add.

Answer 1

“Bailey’s Escape” (Rewritten with Sensory and Figurative Language)

Kayla gasped for air as her heart raced like a runaway train. She knew if she stopped now, she might never see Bailey again. The little dog had leaped over the fence in a panic when the fireworks exploded like a thousand cannons in the night sky, sending him darting down the street. He obviously did not care for the fireworks, which crackled and boomed with a ferocity that rattled her bones.

Kayla turned the corner onto Applegate Avenue when she heard a faint sound, like a whisper of hope amid the chaos. She stood still, the smell of charred gunpowder still lingering in the air, straining to listen for Bailey. Sure enough, she heard a few small yips coming from the Jackson’s open garage, where the shadowy outlines of bicycles and garden tools loomed. Kayla walked toward the Jackson’s house with her senses heightened, feeling every grain of gravel crunching beneath her sneakers.

A moment later, Mrs. Jackson appeared on the front walk, holding Bailey, who squirmed excitedly in her arms. “Thank you so much,” said Kayla, relief flooding through her like a cooling wave. “I’ve been chasing him!”

“Well, I don’t blame him for running,” Mrs. Jackson replied, handing the dog back to Kayla. “Those loud sounds have been getting on my nerves too.” The way Mrs. Jackson’s brow furrowed made it look like she had just stepped into a storm cloud.

Kayla walked home, cradling Bailey close, trying to keep him from squirming away like a wriggly fish. Once they were back inside the comforting embrace of their house, safe from the cacophony outside, Kayla set Bailey down in his cozy dog bed. He settled down with a soft “thump,” curling into a ball, as if the chaos of the outside world had been nothing but a distant memory.

Highlighted Figurative Language:

• Simile: "Her heart raced like a runaway train."
• Metaphor: "Relief flooding through her like a cooling wave."
• Personification: "The way Mrs. Jackson’s brow furrowed made it look like she had just stepped into a storm cloud."
• Hyperbole: "Those loud sounds have been getting on my nerves too."
• Onomatopoeia: "with a soft 'thump.'"
• Oxymoron: "comforting embrace of their house."

Imagery Examples:

• "the smell of charred gunpowder still lingering in the air"
• "the shadowy outlines of bicycles and garden tools loomed"