Similes

Painting With Words

Poets are excellent at painting a picture for their readers with words. Some poems use words so creatively that the reader can feel like they are walking in the poet’s footsteps, experiencing the same event or feeling as them. There are many techniques poets use to create this experience, such as similes, metaphors and personification.

What is a simile?

A simile is a technique in language where the author compares two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’. Etymology The word ‘simile’ comes from fourteenth-century Latin and it means ‘like’ or ‘similar’. Examples As cute as a kitten As happy as a clam As light as a feather As blind as a bat As cold as ice As hard as nails She runs like a cheetah He fights like a lion She cried like a baby Your eyes are like sunshine He eats like a pig He swam like a fish is like Characteristics of a dragon Intimidating Furious Fierce Fiery Scary Comparing My teacher a dragon What is a metaphor? A metaphor is a type of language technique where the author compares two different things and, as a result, reveals their similarities. Etymology The word ‘metaphor’ comes from Ancient Greek and means ‘to transfer’ or ‘carry over’.©The Educational Company of Ireland