Grammar Practice Quiz: the simile vs metaphor
Stories explaining simile vs metaphor:
1. Simile
In the bustling city of Harmonyville, there was a man named John who
loved to play the piano. He played with such grace and skill that his music was
like a soothing lullaby for the weary souls of the city.
In this story, the phrase "like a soothing lullaby" is a
simile. It compares John's music to a lullaby using the word "like."
Similes explicitly state the comparison using "like" or
"as," allowing the reader to easily understand the similarity being
conveyed.
2. Metaphor
Once upon a time in a small, peaceful village, there was a young girl
named Lily. Lily was known throughout the village for her kindness and her
ability to bring joy to everyone she met. People often said that Lily was a
"ray of sunshine."
In this story, the phrase "ray of sunshine" is a metaphor. It
directly compares Lily to sunshine without using "like" or
"as." This comparison suggests that Lily's personality and presence
have the same uplifting and brightening effect as the sun. Metaphors create a
direct and implied connection between two things.
3. The difference between a metaphor and a simile
The main difference between a metaphor and a simile is in how they make
comparisons:
- A metaphor
directly equates one thing with another, suggesting that they are the same
or share similar characteristics without using "like" or
"as."
- A simile,
on the other hand, makes a comparison using "like" or "as"
to highlight a similarity between two things.
20 famous quotes that involve similes and metaphors:
- "Life is
like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." -
Forrest Gump
- "Her smile
was as bright as the morning sun."
- "His words
cut through the silence like a knife."
- "The old
man's memory was as clear as crystal."
- "She
danced as gracefully as a swan on the lake."
- "Time
flies like an arrow."
- "The city
streets were as busy as a beehive."
- "His voice
was smooth like velvet."
- "The night
sky sparkled like a thousand diamonds."
- "The news
hit me like a ton of bricks."
- "All the
world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." - William
Shakespeare
- "The world
is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." - Saint
Augustine
- "The ship
plowed through the sea, a mighty beast on the prowl."
- "Her heart
was a fragile glass, easily shattered by his words."
- "The
classroom was a zoo, with students behaving like wild animals."
- "His love
was a raging fire, consuming everything in its path."
- "Life is a
journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and
accommodations." - Oliver Goldsmith
- "The
economy is a roller coaster, with its ups and downs."
- "The world
is a garden, and we are the gardeners, shaping its future."
- "Her
laughter was a symphony of joy, filling the room with its beautiful
melody."