Metaphors, Simile and Personification
When we compare two things, we are using a metaphor. if that comparison is direct, using the words "like" or "as", it is called a simile.
Here are some examples.
- She was a flower in bloom. (Metaphor - she is indirectly compared to a flower.)
- She was like a flower in bloom. (Simile - she is directly compared to a flower using the word "like".)
- She was as sweet as a peach. (Simile - she is directly compared to a peach using "as".)
Exercise One
Say whether the following are metaphors, or similes, or not figurative language at all.
- My love is like a red, red rose.
- The team played like tigers in the second half.
- We tramped across the carpet of autumn leaves.
- The landscape was a tapestry of colours.
- We ate a mountain of spaghetti!
- Her snake-like motioning attracted some attention.
- Her face was a picture.
- As we were walking, I saw my friend coming round the corner.
- He looked at me with steely eyes.
- The tea smelled like bitter almonds!
Exercise Two
Make up metaphors and Similes of your own, by completing the following sentences.
- Lydia's eyes were like ___.
- Michael was a ___ in a crisis.
- The ___ nose of my English teacher came into view.
- He was as fat as a ___.
- The whole school sat ___.
- His hands were like ___.
- Her words were ___.
- Nonhlanhla is a ___.
- The flowers looked ___.
- My aunt ___ across the room.
Personification is a particular type of metaphor. Something inanimate, or abstract is compared to something living or, more particularly human. In other words it is given the characteristics of something living or human. Here is an example.
The rosy fingers of the sun
The rays of the sun are compared to a human hand.
You ned to be careful, however, as sometimes human or living things are compared to inanimate matter, and this is not a personification, just an ordinary metaphor. Can you say why?
Exercise Three
Which of the following are examples of personification, metaphor, or simile?
- The bag waited patiently by the door.
- The sun smiled that day.
- The bell rang maliciously to signal the start of school.
- Her eyes looked like black coals.
- The coals winked in the fire.
- The end of the day beckoned to us.
- The policeman slumped down like a sack of potatoes.
- The angry guns rattled off a reply.
- His tie shouted across the room at us.
- Petros grinned like a Cheshire cat.
