MetaphorA metaphor is a comparison between two dissimilar things without using the word “like” or “as” to make the comparison. It’s been said that the greater the difference between the two things being compared, the better the metaphor. For example, when asked to create a metaphor, a student of mine once wrote, “Football is baseball.” Though this is arguably a metaphor, it generally would not be regarded as a very good one because the objects of comparison are too similar. “Football is chess” would be an improvement, because the objects of comparison are more dissimilar. Metaphors can be direct (using a form of is), they can be implied (or suggested without the use of is), and they can also be extended beyond a sentence into a longer piece of text.
Here are some example metaphors: 1. The cast on Michael’s broken leg was a plaster shackle. 2. She was just a trophy to Ricardo, another object to possess. 3. The path of resentment is easier to travel than the road to forgiveness. 4. Waves of spam emails inundated his inbox. 5. Her eyes were fireflies. SimileSimiles are comparisons between two unlike things using the word “like” or “as.” Similes sometimes form the building blocks of analogies (extended comparisons) and they are commonly used in both speech and literature. Because of the signal words “like” and “as,” students are usually able to identify similes with greater efficacy than other figurative language techniques such as metaphor or personification. However, students should be made aware that just because the speaker or writer uses the word “like” or “as,” does not automatically mean that they are using a simile. This is because “like” and “as” have other roles in the English language besides making comparison, such as when the speaker or writer expresses a preference for something. In the statement, “I like pizza,” no comparison is being made; the speaker merely expresses a preference. My point is that while “like” and “as” can be helpful signal words, in a simile a comparison must be made.
Here are some examples of simile: 1. My mother’s kitchen was like a holy place: you couldn’t wear your shoes, you had to sit there at a certain time, and occasionally we’d pray. 2. The bottle rolled off the table like a teardrop. 3. The handshake felt like warm laundry. 4. She hung her head like a dying flower. 5. Arguing with her was like dueling with hand grenades. |
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