Simile vs. Metaphor (Definition, Comparison, Examples)

What is a simile? And how is it different from a metaphor? How should a person use a simile in their writing? And what is the importance of using them? This can be a confusing subject for English writers and speakers.

Learn about similes in this English worksheet…

What is a simile?

Simile is a derivative of similis, a Latin word that means like or similar. Poetries are usually described as improvised prose because they can express vivid and dense imaginations. Similes are among such oldest poetic tools to accomplish the same. From the start of recognizing poetry as a viable art form, Aristotle theorized the use and purpose of similes.

The vast majority of similes function in a sensory state, and the phrase sensory simile can describe the verse across the range of literary and poetic history.

A simile compares two things directly. Referred to as a figure of speech, a simile highlights similarities by using comparative words between two nouns. These are words such as like, so, as or than.

Simile (noun) /ˈsiməlē/

a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox ).

Sometimes people confuse a simile with a metaphor. Nonetheless, it is essential to note that similes enhance the imagery via comparing an idea or object to another, primarily unrelated ones. Similes that are strongest operate using an analogy in the physical sense.

For example, “my love for you is akin to a red rose” is an excellent illustration of it. Love is abstract, and to express it in vitality, Robert Burns, the poet, compared it with a red rose. Roses are fragrant, lush, and colorful and help express the understanding and meaning of deep love.

How are Similes Structured?

There are two kinds of distinct simile structures:

Rhetorical Simile

This is the simile most people are familiar with. The rhetorical traditional simile follows with like a or as a structure. Some examples of rhetorical simile are:

• As chilled as a freezer
• As lengthy as a skipping rope
• Has eyesight like an eagle
• As sharp as a hacksaw
• As strong as King Kong

Epic or Homeric Simile

An Epic or Homeric simile follows a similar pattern to rhetorical similes, usually stretched over many lines rather than wrapped neatly in five or four words.

Homeric, derived from the Greek writer named Homer, Homeric similes are grander and typically find a place in poetry to stress some heroism or the subject. When you compare a simile vs a metaphor, if you understand the patterns of similes, you can grasp the distinctions.

When to Avoid Using Similes

A simile uses comparative words such as like or as to create a link between two things. Often, images help us understand what the writer is trying to express and brings us to a level of appreciation and awareness.

On some occasions, the use of a simile can be overkill. Adhere to these suggestions:

• Do not use imagery or simile if you are trying to evoke an idea or a feeling distinct from the writing itself.
• Simile in writing is ideally used to bring out that extra meaning or dimension to the scene or the moment. This may not be explicit in the text, so a simile will generate an idea.

If you are not trying to evoke anything specific in your reader’s mind, then you should avoid using a simile.

When using a simile in writing, you should question whether the image or simile should best be used as metaphor?

Does your writing allow the reader to understand the meaning without giving into your temptation to give a detailed explanation?

You will comprehend this point better when you can easily make a comparison between a simile vs metaphor.

Where Does The Word “Simile” Come From

Simile has roots in the Latin word similis (which means like, similar). It is pretty fitting as the comparison highlighted using a simile will primarily have the words like or as.

A simile is the oldest way of accomplishing expression in poetry for the reader. Aristotle used simile at a sensory level in his poetry.

What is a Metaphor?

A metaphor, like a simile, is a “figure of speech.” It is used to describe an action or object in a fashion that is not true. Nonetheless, it helps in understanding a concept or comparison of it.

Some basics of metaphor:

• It equates or compares two things though they are not the same, but does so for the sake of it or symbolism.
• If a metaphor is taken literally, it will mostly sound strange.
• A metaphor emphasizes that a particular thing is also another thing.
• They are used in literature and poetry and when some flair needs to be added to the language.

For example, if someone asks, “how lively is she?” and you answer, “a firecracker,” you have replied with a metaphor.

How are Metaphors Structured?

The fundamental structure for metaphors is that A is B. If we borrow cognitive/linguistic terminology, A is the metaphor target, with B being the source.

The metaphor structure has four elements:

• Vehicle – The keyword which carries the meaning of a metaphor. In the example above, the answer is “a firecracker” the words “a firecracker” is the vehicle.
• Tenor – What is conveyed – the answer is understood easily.
• Ground– The connection between things that are compared. The replied answer and the firecracker both express the element of liveliness.
• Tension – The difference between two things. The answer is not a firecracker unless you celebrate the 4th of July. In such a case, it will be a pun.

Types of Metaphors

There are primarily four types, and if you know these, you will gauge distinctions in a simile vs metaphor:

• Standard Metaphor – It directly compares the two things or entities as though they are synonyms. The majority of common metaphors come under it. For example, *He is the light of my life*, *It is difficult only on paper*, *America is a melting pot of people*.
• Implied Metaphor – In the case of an implied metaphor, you don’t compare the two things directly but rather imply it with a subtle change in wording. For example, “she howled high notes to finish the concert” is an implied metaphor in this case – it compares her to a wolf. A wolf can never be a musician.
• Visual Metaphor – A visual metaphor draws a connection between two non-identical elements by an image. Visual metaphors are extensively used in advertising, where animation and images evoke associations, feelings, and ideas without revealing the direct meaning. For example, how ice cream ads show melted chocolate to invoke the same pleasure experienced when having an ice cream.
• Dead Metaphor – A dead metaphor is used so often that it has lost its power and meaning of imagination. Some examples are nearing a deadline, fallen in love, and electric current.

Differences between simile vs. metaphor

Metaphors and similes are “figures of speech” leveraged to compare two things that are not alike. The key difference between them is that similes compare by stating that something is “similar to or like” something else.

Metaphors, however, compare by stating something “is” something else.

Metaphor (noun) /ˈmedəˌfôr,ˈmedəˌfər/

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Examples of a simile

• Life is like a roller coaster ride
• He is as blind as a vampire bat
• The boys are fighting like cats and dogs
• She swims like a fish

Examples of a metaphor

• He is a night owl
• His phone is a dinosaur
• The world is your oyster

Refer to the table below to see simile’s and metaphor’s side-by-side.

Simile	Metaphor
Like peas in a pod.	She is a fish.
As sweet as pie.	They were tornadoes.
Sparkle like a diamond.	The snow was a blanket.

Similarities Between Simile and Metaphor

So, now that you have a pretty good clue as to a simile vs. metaphor, you can surmise that they play with words. Essentially, the play is done in a way that both aim for the same goal, i.e., to highlight a description by comparison. You may be surprised that some similes and metaphors can be interchangeable.

For instance, you could say those twins are like a couple peas in a single pod. You could also say they are a couple of peas in a single pod. You can see that the message conveyed is identical in both these sentences, yet one is a metaphor, and the other is a simile.

Examples of similes in literature

In comparing simile vs metaphor from any famous literary source, you will discover at least a few examples that aid in understanding these figures of speech. The vaults of English Literature have millions of examples of both figures of speech in poetry or prose.

From the Romantic poets like William Wordsworth to the more recent literature of Ernest Hemingway, you can find numerous examples of similes in all literary works worth their salt.

Here are some key examples that aid you in a comparison of simile vs metaphor, as seen in English Literature:

• From The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – “The café was like a battleship stripped for action.”
• From Daffodils by William Wordsworth – “I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills.”
• From The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – “Time has not stood still. It has washed over me, as if I’m nothing more than a woman of sand…”

Examples of metaphors in literature

Here are some famous metaphors as they have appeared in literature from the olden days till recent times:

• From As You Like It by William Shakespeare – “All the world’s a stage…”
• From The Lord of the Flies by William Golding – “The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold…”
• From Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – “Well, you keep away from her, ’cause she’s a rattrap if I’ve ever seen one.”

Difference between simile, metaphor, and personification

Once you know the difference between a simile vs. a metaphor, it will not be challenging for you to know the difference between the two figures of speech and others. An often-used figure of speech in all forms of literature is personification.

The differences between all three figures of speech – simile, metaphor, and personification – lie mainly in their function. Since you have already understood the concepts behind the simile and the metaphor well, you need some awareness about personification.

A personification is a figure of speech that gives a human quality to an inanimate object. The human quality need not be restricted only to non-living objects and things. Human traits may be attributed to animals and ideas as well.

Typically, you can see personifications in all their glory in poetry and fiction. While similes and metaphors make comparisons in different ways, personification attributes a human trait.

Here are some examples of personification:

• The howling wind scared the baby in the crib.
• As the sun smiled, it warmed our faces.
• Time can fly when you are having fun.
• I saw flowers dancing in the cool breeze.

Difference between simile, metaphor, and analogy

You may have come across an analogy in the world of English literature and, by its very name, though of it while comparing a simile vs metaphor.

All three are related quite closely, but they are not the same. Essentially, a metaphor makes the use of one thing to mean quite another thing.

A simile is an actual comparison between things and a new meaning is created. An analogy displays how two things may be similar, displaying shared qualities. Consequently, an analogy is a rational argument of sorts. Note the examples below:

• The work you are engaged in is as essential as rearranging deck chairs on a ship.
• White is to black as off is to on.
• A person works hard to make two ends meet.

Difference between simile, metaphor, and idiom

Idioms are used regularly in speech and writing and form a vital part of any language. The differences between similes, metaphors, and idioms are pretty clear. A metaphor is a comparison that is made indirectly. A simile is also a comparison, but it is made directly.

An idiom is different because it is a phrase, sometimes called an “adage,” and is often used to describe a situation. Proverbs are also called idioms in the most common of ways.

Here are examples of each so that you can tell the differences between a simile vs. metaphor and idioms:

• Idiom – Butterflies in my stomach (meaning I am nervous)
• Metaphor – He is a wild animal, the way he treats people! (comparing a man to a wild animal by saying he is a wild animal)
• Simile – The little boy was as fierce as a lion in how he fought in the judo match. (Using “as” to compare the little boy to a lion)

The Importance of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech, especially similes and metaphors, are crucial in literature. This is because poetry and prose are made more imaginative, making ideas come to life. To make simple writing more expressive, these figures of speech are cleverly used to make literature come alive in the reader’s imagination.

In contrast to idioms, figures of speech can be grasped even if one has never been exposed to them. Once you hear or read about a metaphor, you may see that it sounds and looks more poetic than any simile. Nonetheless, similes can be important in their functions as well.

Figures of speech are vital to make any writing or speech more meaningful for the audience and the writer.

Sources

1. The History of Simile and Sensory Poems – Pen and the Pad
2. What Is a Simile: Definition, Types, and Examples – Skillshare
3. Simile vs. Metaphor: Understand The Difference
4. Simile vs. Metaphor: What’s the Difference? – Grammarly