Similes and Metaphors Poetry Devices

Simile  A comparison using like or as  His feet were as big as boats.

Metaphor  A metaphor states that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but it does NOT use like or as to make the comparison.  Her hair is silk.

Simile or Metaphor????  The baby was like an octopus, grabbing at all the cans on the grocery store shelves.  As the teacher entered the room she muttered under her breath, "This class is like a three-ring circus!"  The giant’s steps were thunder as he ran toward Jack.  The pillow was a cloud when I put my head upon it after a long day.

Simile or Metaphor????  I feel like a limp dishrag.  Those girls are like two peas in a pod.  The fluorescent light was the sun during our test.  No one invites Harold to parties because he’s a wet blanket.  The bar of soap was a slippery eel during the dog’s bath.  Ted was as nervous as a cat with a long tail in a room full of rocking chairs.

Willow and Ginkgo (pg 215 textbook) Eve Merriam The willow is like an etching, Fine-lined against the sky. The ginkgo is like a crude sketch, Hardly worthy to be signed. The willow’s music is like a soprano, Delicate and thin. The ginkgo’s tune is like a chorus With everyone joining in. The willow is sleek as a velvet-nosed calf; The ginkgo is leathery as an old bull. The willow’s branches are like silken thread; The ginkgo’s like stubby rough wool.

Respond to Reading  Read the rest of the poem on your own.  On a piece of paper, write a sentence or two about the speaker’s opinions of the willow and the ginkgo.  Which sensory details in this poem do you respond to the most strongly? To which senses do they appeal?  What did you picture in your mind as you read this poem? You may choose to sketch your visual.  List a simile from the poem that you thought had the best description or comparison.

A Loaf Of Poetry by Naoshi Koriyama (pg 217) you mixuntil the dough it puffs out big of experiencewith its own inner force Withand then the yeastknead it again of inspirationand and knead it wellshape it with loveinto a round form and pound itand bake it with all your mightin the oven and thenof your heart leave it

Respond to Reading  What are the ingredients of “a loaf of poetry”?  What is the heart compared to in the poem?  Why do you think the speaker of “A Loaf of Poetry” compares writing a poem to baking a loaf of bread?  Do you think the speaker enjoys the writing process? Which words and phrases in the poem support your opinion?  What is the central metaphor in this poem? Can you list specific metaphors from the poem?

Simile and Metaphor Game  Find a partner  You have 15 minutes to come up with as many similes and metaphors for the word I give you  You will get 1 point for each simile and 2 points for each metaphor  They must be written so that I can read them

Chocolate  Make as many similes and metaphors as you can for this word.