Personifying Food

Mr. Stenner comes home late from work. His son says, “Let’s go to a movie.”

“Sorry,” says Mr. Stenner. “My dinner is calling me.”

We know, of course, that dinner can’t call. What’s it going to do? Shout, “Mr. Stenner! Mr. Stenner!” Wave at him? Make an “over here” gesture?

Of course not. Though he may not realize it, Mr. Stenner is using personification. In other words, he is giving human traits to an inanimate object. Here are two more examples:

The chocolate and the marshmallows kissed the graham crackers, becoming s’mores.

When Seth started jumping rope in the dining room, the dishes danced in the hutch.

Below are some verbs that express things that humans do. Choose verbs from this list and use them to write five sentences that personify foods. Be creative!

Why did the elephant stand on the marshmallow?

Because he didn’t want to fall into the hot chocolate.

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How Many Ways...

Answer the following:

1.How many ways can you find to say, “The food tasted great!” without saying, “The food tasted great”? List at least three.

2.How many ways can you find to say, “The movie was boring,” without saying, “The movie was boring”? List at least three.

3.How many ways can you find to say, “It was an ugly dog,” without saying, “It was an ugly dog”? List at least three.

What do you

get when you put three ducks into a carton?

A box of quackers.

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A Spot of plot

The setting: late at night outside a creepy old restaurant that has been closed for a long time The characters: three young people

You have the setting and the character basics. Now create a plot. What happens?

As you tell the story of what happens, make the last words of your sentences rhyme. The first and second sentences must rhyme. The second and third must rhyme. The fourth and fifth must rhyme, etc.

Here’s an example of how one person started a story on a different subject:

Frank hated to babysit. He really, really, really hated it. The worst was when he had to babysit his twin brother and sister, Katie and Kyle. The two were so wild that he had to be stern with them and could never smile. They found the Vaseline and smeared it all over their hair. It wouldn’t come out, but Frank didn’t care....

Your story should be at least 15 sentences long.

“My life has a superb cast but I can’t figure out the plot.”

—Ashleigh Brilliant

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Getting Hyperbolic

“Why do I love my little Marshmallow Fluffster?” asked Liza, petting her little white kitten. “It’s because she is the cutest little thing I ever saw! She’s the most adorable cat that was ever born, and no one who sees her can resist her. She just oozes lovability, if that is a word. If it isn’t a word, it should be because she is just SO lovable!”

Liza has a bad case of hyperbole. When people use hyperbole, they are exaggerating…a lot. Have some fun with hyperbole. First, describe your Aunt Eleanor’s “chocolate decadence cake

tower,” using hyperbole.

Now that you are warmed up, choose one of the following and describe it in super awesome wonderful terms:

1.Your new kitchen

2.Your homemade pizza

3.Your new job as a celebrity chef

4.Your baby brother or sister’s appetite

5.A class you are taking on gourmet cooking

6.Your talent at cooking

7.Someone else’s talent at waiting tables

“Some folks never

exaggerate— they just remember big.”

—Audrey Snead

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