Simile and Metaphor

CRAFT TERM

Oct 26

A metaphor is a comparison that is made directly or less directly, but in any case without pointing out a similarity by using words such as “like,” “as,” or “than.”

A simile is a comparison made with “as,” “like,” or “than.”

via Poetry Foundation

Example

Example of metaphor:
excerpt from “'Hope' is the thing with feathers - (314)” by Emily Dickinson:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

Example of simile:
excerpt from “Rotation” by Natasha Trethewey:

Like the moon that night, my father —
a distant body, white and luminous.
How small I was back then,
looking up as if from dark earth.

Prompt

Having a frustrating day? Simile and metaphor can put a smile on your face. Pick a person, place, or thing that is annoying you. Make two columns, and write

_______ is / ________ like/as ________

Bonnie's text message is problematic as a punchbowl spiked with whiskey at a high school dance.

Let your frustration flag fly! Later you can mix and match these lines to create a poem.

Resource written by:

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Kris Kaila

is a Queer Punjabi Canadian poet, writer, book reviewer & blogger. Her poetry & nonfiction has been published in The Poetry Lab Resource Center, Harness Magazine, Usawa Literary Review, Salt & Citrus, in three anthologies by Beyond the Veil Press and in a forthcoming anthology by Read or Green Books. Kris volunteers with The Poetry Lab, Beyond the Veil Press and Crow Collective.

Find her on Instagram @krisesque_life | 📚 Read More by Kris