Grade 9 Text Analysis Worksheet

Grade 9 Text Analysis Worksheet

Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions that follow. Pay close attention to literary devices, themes, and author's purpose.

Passage: The old house stood on a hill overlooking the town, a silent sentinel against the relentless march of time. Its paint peeled like sunburnt skin, and its windows, dark and vacant, seemed to gaze out with a mournful longing. A gnarled oak, centuries old, twisted its branches around one side, its roots cracking the foundation like arthritic fingers. Locals whispered tales of its former inhabitants, a solitary artist who painted only in shades of grey, and a young woman who vanished one stormy night, leaving behind only a single, faded blue ribbon tied to the gate. The air around the house was always cooler, the silence deeper, as if the very atmosphere held its breath, preserving the echoes of forgotten lives.

1. Which literary device is primarily used in the phrase 'Its paint peeled like sunburnt skin'?

2. The windows of the old house are described as   and  , suggesting a sense of emptiness and sadness.

3. What is the author's primary purpose in describing the gnarled oak tree in such detail?

4. The passage suggests that the house has a lively and welcoming atmosphere.

5. Analyze how the author uses imagery and diction to create a specific mood or tone in the passage. Provide at least two examples from the text to support your analysis.