Ocean Vuong's Immigration to English

Identify the type of figurative language used in the following excerpt: "Once, I was like a leaf."

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Hyperbole

Identify the type of figurative language used in the following excerpt: "A tongue like a blade of grass sharp enough to cut us."

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Hyperbole

Identify the type of figurative language used in the following excerpt: "The words fell like small stones from my mouth."

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

• Onomatopoeia

Identify the type of figurative language used in the following excerpt: "But English is a house of words heavy enough to sink our voices."

• Hyperbole

• Metaphor

• Allusion

• Simile

What is the significance of the "house" metaphor in Vuong's poem?

• It represents the weight of the English language and the limitations placed on immigrants.

• It symbolizes the safety and security of a new life.

• It refers to the school system and the pressures of academics.

• It shows how language can imprison one’s identity.

In the poem, Vuong uses a lot of contrasts (e.g., before and after, Vietnamese and English). What do these contrasts reveal about the speaker's experience with language?

• The contrasts show Vuong’s reluctance to learn and his fear of failure or shame.

• They highlight the speaker’s success in adapting to a new language.

• They emphasize the speaker’s nostalgia for the past and his nervousness about the future.

How does Vuong convey the emotional impact of learning a new language?

• Through vivid imagery of pain and struggle.

• By describing the technical process of learning.

• Through optimistic language about personal growth.

• By highlighting the ease of language acquisition.

What role does the concept of "home" play in the poem?

• It symbolizes a new country.

• It represents a sense of belonging in the English language.

• It stands for the speaker’s memories of Vietnam.

• It refers to a place where language is irrelevant.

What is the central theme of "Immigration into English"?

• The difficulty of adapting to a new culture.

• The loss of identity through language change.

• The resilience and complexity of immigrants.

• The beauty of bilingualism.

Which of the following best represents the author’s purpose in writing "Immigration into English"?

• To highlight the beauty of the English language.

• To explore the emotional journey of immigrants learning a new language.

• To criticize the process of assimilation.

• To encourage language acquisition.