“Fresh as a Daisy… Quiet as a Mouse….

Mean as a Rattlesnake”

A Tutorial all about Similes!By: Jennifer Pritchard

8th Grade English Language Arts

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IntroductionIntroductionWelcome! You are about to enter a world of cliché’s and “pick-up lines.” Has anyone ever called you “crazy as a loon” or told you

“your eyes are like diamonds?” These are similes, and you hear them everyday, whether you realize it or not.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to identify similes in poetry, musical lyrics, newspaper articles, and even magazines.

So what are you waiting for? “Let’s get busy as bees!”

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Simile DefinitionSimile Definition In order to understand what a simile is, we In order to understand what a simile is, we

must first define it.must first define it.Similes compare two things in order to make one of those Similes compare two things in order to make one of those

things clearer and easier for your audience to visualize. things clearer and easier for your audience to visualize. Similes use the terms Similes use the terms “like”“like” or or “as”“as” to make these to make these comparisons. comparisons.

For exampleFor example:: Suzy swims like a fish Suzy swims like a fish. . If you will notice, Suzy’s swimming technique is If you will notice, Suzy’s swimming technique is

being compared to that of a fish. And because we being compared to that of a fish. And because we know that fish swim really fast, we can assume know that fish swim really fast, we can assume that Suzy does too!that Suzy does too!

Another simile we often hear is “run like the wind.”Another simile we often hear is “run like the wind.”

Even though we cannot “see” the wind Even though we cannot “see” the wind running, we understand that the wind canrunning, we understand that the wind can

blow very quickly at times. Usually, you blow very quickly at times. Usually, you will find someone telling you do to thiswill find someone telling you do to this

rightright before you get caught doing before you get caught doing something you shouldn’t!something you shouldn’t!

So what does all it mean?So what does all it mean?You may be asking yourself why you need similes in You may be asking yourself why you need similes in

writing.writing.Well, let’s look at this example below. Well, let’s look at this example below.

You determine if there is a difference… You determine if there is a difference…

Close your eyes and think about this sentence:Close your eyes and think about this sentence: “Johnny eats a lot.”“Johnny eats a lot.”

Ok,Ok, now close your eyes and think about this sentence: now close your eyes and think about this sentence: “Johnny eats “Johnny eats like a pig!”like a pig!”

Did you notice any difference? Did you notice any difference? Did you picture a pig with the second sentence?Did you picture a pig with the second sentence?You see, similes give us a sort visual image to show us the You see, similes give us a sort visual image to show us the

extremity of the situation!extremity of the situation!

Johnny must be a hungry boy! Johnny must be a hungry boy!

Now, let’s see how well you can make a Now, let’s see how well you can make a simile out of the pictures provided simile out of the pictures provided

below:below:

Answer choices: click on the your answer choice below. Answer choices: click on the your answer choice below.

Button-upButton-up

Cute as a buttonCute as a button

Buttons are cuteButtons are cute

SORRYSORRY

Wrong Answer!Wrong Answer!

You Got It!!You Got It!!

Now that you are the master of identifying similes, try a few more here!

Match the following pictures with the similes you

think they represent. Dumb as a rockDumb as a rock Smart as foxSmart as fox Bald as an eagleBald as an eagle

How Did You Do?How Did You Do?

Dumb as a rockDumb as a rock::

Smart as a foxSmart as a fox::

Bald as an eagleBald as an eagle::

Now we come to the fun part! Now we come to the fun part! You are going to design a poem You are going to design a poem

using similes of your own. using similes of your own. Remember, be creative and have a Remember, be creative and have a

ball! ball! Come along….Come along….

Directions: Fill in the blanks with fresh similes as you read the Directions: Fill in the blanks with fresh similes as you read the prompts below. You can do this on your own paper or even in prompts below. You can do this on your own paper or even in your mind! Using fresh similes makes you sound fresh and your mind! Using fresh similes makes you sound fresh and

witty!witty! As poor as a ______As poor as a ______As strong as a ______As strong as a ______As cute as a ______As cute as a ______As smart as a ______As smart as a ______As thin as a ______As thin as a ______As white as a _____As white as a _____As fit as a _____As fit as a _____As dumb as a _____As dumb as a _____As bald as an _____As bald as an _____As neat as a _____As neat as a _____As proud as a ______As proud as a ______

So, how did you do? Look below for some of the traditional similes that So, how did you do? Look below for some of the traditional similes that generally go with the prompts that were provided for you on the generally go with the prompts that were provided for you on the

previous slide.previous slide.

As poor as a As poor as a church mouse church mouse

As strong as a As strong as a oxox

As cute as a As cute as a buttonbutton

As smart as a As smart as a whipwhip

As thin as a As thin as a toothpicktoothpick

As white as a As white as a ghostghost

As fit as a As fit as a fiddlefiddle

As dumb as a As dumb as a rockrock

As bald as an As bald as an eagleeagle

As neat as a As neat as a pinpin

As proud as a As proud as a peacockpeacock

Let’s change gears for just a minute. You know Let’s change gears for just a minute. You know how I told you earlier that you can find similes how I told you earlier that you can find similes

in everyday writings? Look at the statement in everyday writings? Look at the statement

below.below. "A Picture Is Not Always Pretty,""A Picture Is Not Always Pretty," Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times.

November 20, 1992. Section B, p. 6, col. 3.November 20, 1992. Section B, p. 6, col. 3.

Which simile do you think that this statement matches best? Which simile do you think that this statement matches best?

The grass is greener

A picture is worth a thousand words

Pretty as a picture

Right On!

You are on fire now!

Sorry!Sorry!

Wrong Answer- Try AgainWrong Answer- Try Again

You can even find similes in musical You can even find similes in musical lyrics like the ones below…lyrics like the ones below…

““In touch with the groundIn touch with the groundI'm on the hunt I'm after youI'm on the hunt I'm after youSmell like I sound I'm lost in a crowd.Smell like I sound I'm lost in a crowd.And And I'm hungry like the wolf.I'm hungry like the wolf.Straddle the line in discord and rhymeStraddle the line in discord and rhymeI'm on the hunt I'm after you.I'm on the hunt I'm after you.Mouth is alive with juices like wineMouth is alive with juices like wineAnd And I'm hungry like the wolfI'm hungry like the wolf. .

Step into any local karaoke bar and you are likely Step into any local karaoke bar and you are likely to hear someone singing this oldie but goody!to hear someone singing this oldie but goody!

Similes often appear in the Similes often appear in the newspapers you read!newspapers you read!

When its damp and windy, crossing what he When its damp and windy, crossing what he calls "the cheese grater" on the old calls "the cheese grater" on the old lift bridge is "a death-defying feat," lift bridge is "a death-defying feat," complains the Portsmouth design engineer complains the Portsmouth design engineer and avid cyclist. His only other choice and avid cyclist. His only other choice - hobbling in cleated shoes with his - hobbling in cleated shoes with his

bike across the bridge's wooden sidewalk bike across the bridge's wooden sidewalk - is "as slippery as a balance beam“-- is "as slippery as a balance beam“-

Southeast Area Bicycle RoutesSoutheast Area Bicycle Routes

Now, let’s see if you find the simile in this Now, let’s see if you find the simile in this newspaper article…newspaper article…

““The list of problems these islands face The list of problems these islands face is as long as a child’s Christmas list to is as long as a child’s Christmas list to Santa. The Virgin Islands are in dire Santa. The Virgin Islands are in dire

need of some upkeep.”need of some upkeep.”

Did you guess correctly?Did you guess correctly?

““The list of problems these islands The list of problems these islands face is face is as long as a child’s as long as a child’s

Christmas list to SantaChristmas list to Santa.. The The Virgin Islands are in dire need of Virgin Islands are in dire need of

some upkeep.”some upkeep.”

Below you will find a bunch of pictures just Below you will find a bunch of pictures just “lounging” around waiting to be discovered. “lounging” around waiting to be discovered.

Since you seem to be an expert, I thought Since you seem to be an expert, I thought maybe you could figure out what similes can maybe you could figure out what similes can be made out of the pictures below. (**Hint-be made out of the pictures below. (**Hint-

each picture makes one simile)each picture makes one simile)A B C

D

E

You really are becoming an expert on You really are becoming an expert on this whole simile thing!this whole simile thing!

Even though there are several similes that can be derived Even though there are several similes that can be derived from these pictures, here are few common ones. from these pictures, here are few common ones.

How do yours compare?How do yours compare?

A.A. ““Clear as a bell”Clear as a bell”

B.B. ““Light as a feather”Light as a feather”

C.C. ““Straight as an arrow”Straight as an arrow”

D.D. ““Sharp as a tack”Sharp as a tack”

E.E. ““Snug as a bug in a rug” Snug as a bug in a rug”

Time to go…Time to go…

It looks like that is all the time we It looks like that is all the time we have got. It’s so hard to say have got. It’s so hard to say

goodbye isn’t it?goodbye isn’t it?

NOT!!NOT!!

So, get out of here why don’t you?So, get out of here why don’t you?

Yeah, make Yeah, make likelike a tree and LEAVE!! a tree and LEAVE!!