Distinguish a simile from a metaphor
The idea
A simile signals a comparison with like or as; a metaphor calls one thing another to suggest a shared quality.
Step by step
- Find the two things being compared.
- Look for like or as linking the comparison; a literal use of like is not automatically a simile.
- Name the comparison and explain the shared quality.
Example
What is “The lake was like a mirror” an example of?
Answer
A simile
Like explicitly compares the lake with a mirror, suggesting a smooth reflecting surface.
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Describe a quiet room once with a simile and once with a metaphor. Explain what each suggests.
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