“Hairs” by Sandra Cisneros Figurative Language Activity
Directions:
Read the vignette “Hairs” by Sandra Cisneros and write examples of figurative language in the chart below. Make sure to explain why the
author uses the figurative language.
An example from the “My Name” vignette by Sandra Cisneros:
The line “
It means sadness” is a metaphor that compares her name to sadness. The author
uses this metaphor to show that the narrator, Esperanza, must not feel happy about her name, and could possibly not like it.
Hairs
Everybody in our family has different hair. My papa’s hair is like a broom, all up in the air. And me, my hair is lazy. It never obeys barrettes or bands.
Carlos’ hair is thick and straight. He doesn’t need to comb it. Nenny’s hair is slippery—slides out of your hand. And Kiki, who is the youngest, has
hair like fur.
But my mother’s hair, my mother’s hair, like little rosettes, like little candy circles all curly and pretty because she pinned it in pincurls all day, sweet
to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before you bake it, is the smell when she
makes room for you on her side of the bed still warm with her skin, and you sleep near her, the rain outside falling and Papa snoring. The snoring,
the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells like bread.
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Alliteration
my hair is lazy.
Nenny’s hair is slippery
My papa’s hair is like a
broom.
But my mother’s hair, my
mother’s hair, like little
rosettes.
It never obeys barrettes or
bands.
My hair is lazy.
It never obeys barrettes
or bands.
when she is holding you,
holding you and you feel
safe
