English 13+ Common Entrance Worksheets, Questions and Revision

In a passage about a lighthouse keeper, the writer describes the sea as 'a grey wolf pacing the rocks, patient and hungry.' Explain what this metaphor suggests about the sea, and comment on its effect on the reader. (3 marks)

1. Identify the technique: this is a metaphor, since the sea is directly described as being a wolf, not just compared to one using 'like' or 'as'.
2. Note the qualities of a wolf being transferred to the sea: patience, hunger and a slow, threatening presence.
3. Link this to meaning: the metaphor suggests the sea seems alive, dangerous and always waiting for a chance to strike, rather than calm or harmless.
4. Comment on the effect on the reader: it creates a tense, unsettling atmosphere and makes the sea feel like a real threat to anyone living near it.