figurative comparisons poetic devices in prose. imagery images make writing more lively. we can use...

Figurative Comparisons

Poetic Devices in Prose

Imagery

• Images make writing more lively. • We can use images to describe directly.• We can also import images through figurative

comparisons. • The word sunflower can make sunflowers appear as readily as clip art.

Sensory Details

Images are sensory details, things we perceive through the senses.

Simile

Simile in an Essay

My grandmother’s house is like a chambered nautilus; it has many rooms . . . Judith Ortiz Cofer “More Room”

Colorful Simile

My grandmother’s house . . . rested on its perch like a great blue bird, not a flying sort of bird, more of a nesting hen but with spread wings. Judith Ortiz Cofer “More Room”

Another SimileThe more you write the easier it gets, and when you have a True True Friend to write to, a compadre, a soul sibling, then it’s like driving a car down a country road, you just get behind the key board and press on the gas. Garrison Keillor “How to Write a Letter”

Similes in a Poem

When She Was HereWhen She Was Here

When she was here, Li Bo, she was like a cold summer lager,When she was here, Li Bo, she was like a cold summer lager,Like hot pastrami at Katz’s on Houston Street,Like hot pastrami at Katz’s on Houston Street,Like a bright nickname on my downtown express,Like a bright nickname on my downtown express,Like every custardy honey from the old art books:Like every custardy honey from the old art books:She was quadraphonic MahlerShe was quadraphonic MahlerAnd the perfect little gymnast.And the perfect little gymnast.

Now she’s gone, it’s like a flat Coke on Sunday morning,Now she’s gone, it’s like a flat Coke on Sunday morning,Like a melted Velveeta on white, eatenLike a melted Velveeta on white, eatenListening to Bobby Vinton—Listening to Bobby Vinton—Like the Philadelphia Eagles. Peter Williams Like the Philadelphia Eagles. Peter Williams

How many parts?

• Two stanzas.

• A big one and a small one.

• A stanza in a poem is like a paragraph in an

essay.

Similes in Red When She Was Here

When she was here, Li Bo, she was like a cold summer lager,Like hot pastrami at Katz’s on Houston Street,Like a bright nickname on my downtown express,Like every custardy honey from the old art books:She was quadraphonic MahlerAnd the perfect little gymnast.

Now she’s gone, it’s like a flat Coke on Sunday morning,Like a melted Velveeta on white, eatenListening to Bobby Vinton—Like the Philadelphia Eagles. Peter Williams

Supermarket of the Imagination

Shopping for images

Make a Table O O O

Superior Things Sorry Things

Something Good to Drink

Shopping for ImagesSuperior Things Sorry Things

A tall glass of pink lemonade with plenty of ice on a hot July afternoon

Something Not so Good to Drink

Shopping for ImagesSuperior Things Mediocre Things


Cold coffee

Something Good to Eat



Cold coffee

Thanksgiving turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings

Something not so Tasty



Cold coffee


Half a bag of stale potato chips

Fantastic Music

Shopping for ImagesSuperior Things Soory Things


Cold coffee



Simon and Garfunkel singing “Sound of Silence” in concert at Central Park

Sorry Music



Cold coffee



Simon and Garfunkel singing “Sound of Silence” in concert at Central Park

Rap music from the neighbors at three o’clock in the morning

Fine Ride



Cold coffee



Listening to Simon and Garfunkel singing “Sound of Silence” in concert at Central Park


A shiny black 1952 Cadillac parked in front of your house for all the world to see

Sorry Ride



Cold coffee



Listening to Simon and Garfunkel singing “Sound of Silence” in concert at Central Park


A shiny black 1952 Cadillac parked in front of your house for all the world to see

An old rusted Volkswagen

think of another think of a contrast

think of another think of a contrast

More Categories Superior Things Catagories Sorry Things

WeatherWinning $4000 jackpot at Speaking Rock Money Finding three pennies in washing machine

Clothes

Movies

Books

Vacations

Sports

Art

TV shows

Flowers

Stores

Your choice

Set up the Two Stanzas

When she was here, it

was LIKE all of these

superior things.

Like X 6

Now that she’s gone, it is

LIKE all of these sorry

things.

Like X 6

My Own PoemWhen she was here, it was Like a tall glass of pink lemonade with ice on a hot July afternoon,Like Thanksgiving turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings,Like Simon and Garfunkel singing “Sound of Silence” in Central Park,Like a shiny black 1952 Cadillac parked in front of your house for all the world to see.Like winning a $4000 jackpot at Speaking RockLike the Arizona Diamondbacks winning the World’s Series in the bottom of the ninth.

Now that she’s gone, it’s Like cold coffee,Like half a bag of stale potato chips,Like rap music at three o’clock in the morning,Like a rusted VW beetle,Like finding three pennies in the washing machine,Like watching golf. James Gonzales

Write Your OwnWord process your poem.

When she was here, it was Like Like Like Like LikeLikeNow that she’s gone, it’s Like Like LikeLike LikeLike

Poetic License

• Use categories you want in whatever order you like.• Switch the order of the stanzas if you want.• Apply to whatever subjects you wish– When I lived in Los Angeles, it was . . . Now that I live in El

Paso it is . . .– When Grandpa was still with us, it was . . . Now that he is

gone, it is . . .– When I was in high school . . . Now that I’m in college– When he was here, it was like all these sorry things . . .

Now that he is gone, it is like all these superior things.

figurative comparisons poetic devices in prose. imagery images make writing more lively. we can use...

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