by Shetu Mitra

Created on: October 21, 2010

A simile and a metaphor are both different kinds of figures of speech.

What is a figure of speech?

A figure of speech uses different forms of expression from the ordinary to produce a greater effect. There are different kinds of speech which can be listed as follows

 Those based on similarity , such as Simile, Metaphor, Personification and Apostrophe Those based on contrast , such as Antithesis and Epigram Those based on association such as Metonymy and Synecdoche Those depending on construction such as climax and Anticlimax

What is a Simile ?

A simile is a comparison of two different kinds of things that have however one similarity.It is to be noted that a comparison of two similar things cannot be considered a simile.The simile generally contains  the words , ‘like’ and ‘as’

Examples of similes

They speak like saints and talk like devils She is as proud as a peacock She is as sweet as candy Bob runs like a deer She slept like a log He is as thin as a rail The willow's music is like a soprano

What is a Metaphor?

A metaphor is an implied simile. It does not state that one thing is like the other but rather takes that fact for granted and considers the two things to be one.An important thing to remember is an object should not be identified with two or more different things at the same time.

Examples of metaphors

Variety is the spice of life The waves thundered on the shore My dad is a bear He hogged the road The light was the sun during our test She toyed with the idea The bar of soap was a slipery eel

Conclusion

When it is said ‘He fought like a lion ‘ it is a simile but when it is said ‘ He was a lion in the fight’ it is a metaphor

It is to be remembered that every simile can be compressed into a metaphor and every metaphor expanded into a simile.For example instead of saying " Richard fought like a lion" ( Simile) it can be said " Richard was a lion in the fight " ( Metaphor) . Similarly instead of saying "The waves broke on the shore with a noise like thunder" ( Simile) it can be said " The waves thundered on the shore " ( Metaphor)

The information presented in this article has been taken from " High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin and from www.beaconlearningcenter.com

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