Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Exploring the Power of MetaphorExploring the Power of Metaphor

SimileSimile is the comparison of two unlike is the comparison of two unlike things using things using likelike or or asas. .

Example:Example:He eats like a pig. Vines like golden prisons. He eats like a pig. Vines like golden prisons.

MetaphorMetaphor comparison of two unlike things comparison of two unlike things using the verb "to be" and not using like or using the verb "to be" and not using like or as as in a as as in a similesimile. .

Example:Example:He is a pig. Thou art sunshine. He is a pig. Thou art sunshine.

Student Examples of Figurative Student Examples of Figurative LanguageLanguage

Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a thigh master.its two sides gently compressed by a thigh master.

His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Freewithout Cling Free

He spoke with wisdom that can only come from He spoke with wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking about the dangers of looking at a country speaking about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.pinhole in it.

She grew on him like E. Coli and he was room temperature She grew on him like E. Coli and he was room temperature Canadian beef.Canadian beef.

She had a deep throaty genuine laugh like that sound a She had a deep throaty genuine laugh like that sound a dog makes just before he throws up.dog makes just before he throws up.

Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever. He was as tall as a six foot three inch tree.He was as tall as a six foot three inch tree. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had

disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM.shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM.

McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a hefty McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.bag filled with vegetable soup.

The hailstones leaped up off the pavement, just like maggots when you The hailstones leaped up off the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.fry them in hot grease.

Long separated by cruel fate, the star crossed lovers races across the Long separated by cruel fate, the star crossed lovers races across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 PM, traveling at 55 MPH, the other from Topeka at Cleveland at 6:36 PM, traveling at 55 MPH, the other from Topeka at 4:19 PM at a speed of 35 MPH.4:19 PM at a speed of 35 MPH.

They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resemble Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.resemble Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.

John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.had also never met.

He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant and she was the east He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant and she was the east river.river.

Even in his last years, Grampa had a mind like a steel trap, only one Even in his last years, Grampa had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out for so long, it had rusted shut.that had been left out for so long, it had rusted shut.

The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

““Oh Jason, take me!” She panted, her breasts heaving like Oh Jason, take me!” She panted, her breasts heaving like a college freshman on $1-a-beer night.a college freshman on $1-a-beer night.

He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a landmine or something.from stepping on a landmine or something.

It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids with It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids with power tools.power tools.

The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

He was deeply in love and when she spoke, he thought he He was deeply in love and when she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Step One:Step One: Journal- list or freewrite on people who have Journal- list or freewrite on people who have

been in your life and/or have affected your been in your life and/or have affected your life and then left- through moving, loss of life and then left- through moving, loss of friendship, death or otherwise. friendship, death or otherwise.

Poem StylePoem Style

Before this, it was like this….Before this, it was like this…. Like….Like…. Like….Like…. It was…It was… AndAnd

And now it has changed because…And now it has changed because… Now it’s like this…Now it’s like this… Like this…Like this… Like this…Like this…

Student Example #1Student Example #1 When he was here, he was like sugar in my coffee,When he was here, he was like sugar in my coffee, Like the gooey cheese on Pizza Hut’s Cheese lover’s pizza,Like the gooey cheese on Pizza Hut’s Cheese lover’s pizza, Like a mound of whip cream atop a sundae,Like a mound of whip cream atop a sundae, Like the first bloom of spring surrounded by snow,Like the first bloom of spring surrounded by snow, He was black granite counter top in a cherry wood kitchenHe was black granite counter top in a cherry wood kitchen And the master of ceremonies to all his guests.And the master of ceremonies to all his guests.

And now it has changed because he was taken from usAnd now it has changed because he was taken from us Now it’s like the two musketeersNow it’s like the two musketeers Like Peanut Butter without the jamLike Peanut Butter without the jam Like the Grand Canyon without the Colorado RiverLike the Grand Canyon without the Colorado River Like the Bulls without Michael Jordan.Like the Bulls without Michael Jordan.

Student Example #2Student Example #2 You are gone, and it’s like…You are gone, and it’s like… Dropping your ice cream on a hot summer dayDropping your ice cream on a hot summer day Like the loss of innocence,Like the loss of innocence, And the confidence it bringsAnd the confidence it brings Like the fumbling around for the light in the darkLike the fumbling around for the light in the dark That moment of fearThat moment of fear Like the dreaded call at seven in the morningLike the dreaded call at seven in the morning The sinking The sinking Realizing that life will never be the sameRealizing that life will never be the same But, my sweet bird, when you were here…But, my sweet bird, when you were here… It was like a warm comforter on a cold winters eve…It was like a warm comforter on a cold winters eve… Like the moment right before you sleepLike the moment right before you sleep Life is calm and sereneLife is calm and serene Like a child’s first HalloweenLike a child’s first Halloween Full of vigor and excitementFull of vigor and excitement Like a butterflyLike a butterfly I still wonder how so much beautyI still wonder how so much beauty Can be containedCan be contained Within the smallest of framesWithin the smallest of frames

Like a monument,Like a monument, A reminder of the struggle, which is the pastA reminder of the struggle, which is the past And the hope we all have for the future.And the hope we all have for the future.

The Red WheelbarrowThe Red Wheelbarrow William Carlos WilliamsWilliam Carlos Williams

so much dependsso much depends uponupon

a red wheel a red wheel barrowbarrow

glazed with rainglazed with rain waterwater

beside the whitebeside the white chickens.chickens.