Final answer:
The simile in the sentence provided is 'like a photo of a family', comparing the figures sitting in the yard to a static family photo. In Laura Kasischke's poem, metaphors and similes are used to create vivid imagery, comparing diverse elements to invoke a deeper understanding of their qualities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The simile in the given student's sentence is 'like a photo of a family'. This figurative language compares 'them sitting under trees at night in my yard' to 'a photo of a family'. The two things being compared here are the sitting figures and a family photograph, which implies a sense of togetherness or a static, captured moment of unity in the yard, similar to that depicted in family photos.
Looking at Laura Kasischke's poem, we can identify the following: 'Caramel is sugar burnt to syrup in a pan'; this uses metaphor to compare caramel to burnt sugar, focusing on the transformation process. 'Chaos is a pinch of joy, a bit of screaming' is another metaphor comparing chaos to a mixture of joy and screaming, highlighting the complex emotions involved. The line 'An infant sleeping's a milky sea' offers a simile comparing a sleeping infant to a peaceful, white sea, using 'a milky sea' to evoke a gentle and tranquil imagery.