SIMILES

Objectives
1. Identify similes.
2. Define similes
3. Understand what is figurative language.
Write a sentence describing yourself
• Miss Ramlogan is stubborn
Figurative language
• Literal language: used to mean exactly what is written.
For example: “It was raining a lot, so I rode the bus.” In this example of literal
language, the writer means to explain exactly what is written: that he or she chose
to ride the bus because of the heavy rain.
• Figurative language: Whenever you describe something by comparing it to
something else, you’re using figurative language. In figurative language, we use
words in a very different way. Authors use figurative language to make
descriptions more interesting. Figurative language does not mean exactly
what the words say.
eg. He is as wise as an owl.
There are many different types of figurative language.

Today we’ll talk about one of them:

Similes .
 SIMILE

Similes, comparisons using “like” or “as” to compare two unlike objects, are used by
writers and speakers to make their text more interesting and descriptive. Similes can
help a writer paint a more specific picture by helping the reader to understand the
characteristics of one thing by comparing it to something else.
 SIMILE
Example: If my brother is “as cool as a cucumber,” it means that he is very calm and
not agitated.

If it is “raining like cats and dogs,” then it means it is raining very hard—large, heavy
raindrops.

Example: She is a graceful as a swan.

What does it mean?

 How to Write a Simile

1. Think of a quality or adjective

2. Think of two unlike objects that might share that quality.

3. Combine by saying that the first thing is “like” the second thing. Use:

As____________as a___________

Or

______________ is like a___________

Example

Consider describing a tall boy.

Tall boy… tree, giraffe, giant
What else is tall? what other object has the quality of being tall?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm…………..
Comparable thing: Giraffe
Thus…….
If the tall boy is being compared to a giraffe which is also tall
A Sentence using Simile can be:
That boy is as tall as a giraffe!
That boy is like a giraffe
Note that the boy is probably not actually as tall as a giraffe; similes are not literal,
so they don’t have to be accurate. We know that it just means he’s really tall.
What is being compared and what is
meant by the simile…….
1. John slept like a log.
2. Mary was as sweet as pie.
3. Tom is like a computer when he does his math.
4. John was as tall as a giraffe.
5. Harry and Joshua are like two peas in a pod.
Take a moment…..

Write one simile about yourself or someone you know.

Remember : be kind
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Circle the words that show a simile.

• He was as strong as an ox.

• The breaking glass sounded like lightning in a storm.
• The bag was as heavy as a box of rocks.
• We laughed like a pack of hyenas.
• Her hair like a shiny waterfall streamed to her shoulders.
Complete the sentence with a simile.

1. I was as hungry as ___________________ .

2. The blanket was soft like ________________ .
3. The light was as bright as _______________ .
4. The summer was as hot as ________________ .
5. The bubble was like ___________________ .
Use the idea below to write a sentence using a simile.

1. a happy person
2. a wet dog
3. a hot day
Read each simile. Explain the comparison in your own words.

1. The wind caressed my neck like the gentle hand of a mother.

2. After playing all afternoon at the fall festival, the child slept as soundly as a bear
hibernating for the winter.

3. The smell of the apple pie wafted through the house and beckoned us to dinner
as effectively as Mama’s call.
 LOOK AT THE
FOLLOWING PICTURES
WRITE SIMILES USING THE PICTURES