Question

Read the excerpt below from the poem "Exile" by Julia Alvarez and answer the question that follows.

A) Or like, Papi, two swimmers looking down
B) at the quiet surface of our island waters,
C) seeing their faces right before plunging in,
D) eager, afraid, not yet sure of the outcome.


Which literary device does the stanza use to compare the speaker's feelings about the new country to the two swimmers?

Answer 1

The stanza uses a simile to compare the speaker's feelings about immigrating to the emotions of swimmers before they plunge into water, reflecting both eagerness and fear of the unknown.

Step-by-step explanation:

The stanza from Julia Alvarez's poem 'Exile' utilizes a simile as the literary device to compare the speaker's feelings about the new country to the feelings of two swimmers.

In lines B and D, 'like, Papi, two swimmers looking down at the quiet surface of our island waters,' the use of 'like' indicates a direct comparison, which is characteristic of a simile. This comparison conveys feelings of anticipation and apprehension towards the unknown, similar to swimmers about to dive into water, unsure of what they will encounter beneath the surface.