Similes, Metaphors and Personification

UNIT 19A: SIMILE, METAPHOR AND
PERSONIFICATION
A literary device is a technique used by an author to have an effect upon the reader. Simile, metaphor and
personification are three literary devices. Many different words can be used as similes and metaphors.
There are many ways to express your ideas, limited only by your imagination.
Sam was frozen in place.

Sam's legs felt like lead.
Sam's feet were rooted to the spot.
The effect of the simile and metaphors is to indicate that Sam is unable to move.
A simile is a form of comparison where one thing is said to be similar to another. A sentence with a simile will
often contain the words 'as... as' or 'like'. An easy way to remember this is to
recall that a simile is similar.
He is as slippery as a snake.
She ran like the wind.
The first example compares the character to a snake to show that they are untrustworthy. The
second implies that the girl running is moving very fast.
A metaphor is another form of comparison. Metaphors do not use 'like' or 'as'; they say that one thing 'is'
another thing. Metaphors should not be taken literally, rather they make a comparison and express
strong ideas.
He is a dirty rat.
The cobweb is a diamond necklace.
The rat metaphor shows that the character is unlikeable and untrustworthy.
Personification is a way of giving non-human things human characteristics. As with
metaphors, personification shouldn't be taken literally.
The floorboards groaned as I walked across the room.
The floorboards do not actually groan, but the word captures a sense of the noise made by the floor
as someone walks on it.
YOUR TURN 19.1
Identify whether each sentence contains a simile (S), a metaphor (M) or an example of
personification (P).
1 She is a real mouse; she won't talk to anyone except her best friend.
2 Opening the front door was like opening an oven.

(S/M/P)
(S/M/P)
(S/M/P)
(S/M/P)
96 PART C: EXPRESSING AND SHARING IDEAS LITERARY DEVICES

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
3 A finger of land pointed out to sea.
4 The stars shone like diamonds.
VERR
S
CLAUSES & PHRASE
IN FOCUS
ATENTIO
5 He bit into the pie and winced as the concrete meat cracked his tooth. s
(S/M/P)
6 The waves roared as they reached out for the swimmer. p
(S/M/P)
7 His manner was cold and dismissive.

(S/M/P)
8 The engine of the packed bus protested as it made its way up the hill.
(S/M/P)
YOUR TURN 19.2
Fill in an appropriate word to complete each simile.
1 As busy as a bee
2 As hot as the sun
3 As cold as ice
4 As mad as a bull
YOUR TURN 19.3

5 As hard as brick
6 As white as paper
7 As cunning as a cat
8 As wise as a
noble
Describe each of
these situations
with a sentence
that uses either a
simile or a
metaphor.
a crowded children's birthday party
The party was was a crowded as a

concert
2 a very hot day
The day was as a

hot as the sun
3 listening to someone making a long speech in a monotonous voice
The speech was as boring as an empty book
YOUR TURN
19.4
Describe each of these situations with a sentence that uses an example of personification.
1 a car broken down by the side of the road

The car was sleeping
2 the ocean on a calm day
3 an aeroplane flying through a storm

UNIT 19A: SIMILE, METAPHOR AND PERSONIFICATION 97
UNIT 19B: SIMILE, METAPHOR AND

PERSONIFICATION
The final storm

The ancient house stood on top of a hill, no companions to counter the loneliness. Once proud and majestic, it
was now sagging and decayed. Shabby wooden boards hung off its sides, barely clinging on to the
skeleton. The spine of the roof was buckled and bent, like a wizened old man.
The house had weathered many storms over the years, but none like this. As the wind began to howl and
shriek, it buffeted the ageing form, beating it on all sides. The rain threw itself against the walls and
the roof tiles, pounding against them energetically. The thunder exploded and roared, shuddering the house's very
foundations. Rain, wind and thunder, the three ganged up against the house, a pack of bullies waiting for
their leader to arrive. Eventually it did, lightning dancing across the sky, taking delight in its target.
The house cowered from the storm, cracks beginning to appear in its ageing skin. Defenseless
against such violent opposition, all it could do was hunker down and hope for the best. Yet its fate
had already been sealed by those who, long ago, decided to move on and abandon it to the
elements.
The storm circled viciously, attacking on all sides. Blow after blow dealt to the frail old form. Cowed, beaten
and eventually broken, it submitted. The few remaining tiles were shaken from the roof as the skeleton
swayed and then toppled to one side.
Their work done, the bullies moved on, leaving the wrecked corpse behind. The broken glass of its windows
glinted in the sunset, like the last spark of life fading from its eyes.
YOUR TURN 19.5
Comprehension
1 Describe the house. How do you know that it is old?
2 What happened to the house's owners?

3
Who or what attacks the house?
4
What evidence is there in the passage that this is an especially fierce storm?
98 PART C: EXPRESSING AND SHARING IDEAS LITERARY DEVICES

DIERS CLAUSES &

PART IN CONTEXT
DATENTT
What happens to the house at the end of the

passage?
Context
6
What is the main literary device in this passage?
7
What metaphor is used to describe the rain, wind and thunder in the second paragraph?
8
What impression does this give of the treatment of the house by the storm?
9
Give three examples of personification used to describe the house.
10 Give an example of personification used to describe each element of the storm.
wind
rain
thunder
lightning
11 How does the writer of the passage want you to feel about the house?
12 How does the writer of the passage want you to feel about the storm?
13 Identify two quotes from the passage that encourage you to feel this way.
UNITS 19/20
Now go to your obook for the
Interactive Upskill
Video tutorial and
module

UNIT 19B: SIMILE, METAPHOR AND PERSONIFICATION 99

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UNIT 19A: SIMILE, METAPHOR AND

Sam was frozen in place.

Sam's feet were rooted to the spot.

The floorboards groaned as I walked across the room.

YOUR TURN 19.1

2 Opening the front door was like opening an oven.

96 PART C: EXPRESSING AND SHARING IDEAS LITERARY DEVICES

3 A finger of land pointed out to sea.

4 The stars shone like diamonds.

7 His manner was cold and dismissive.

YOUR TURN 19.2

Fill in an appropriate word to complete each simile.

2 As hot as the sun

YOUR TURN 19.3

a crowded children's birthday party

The party was was a crowded as a

2 a very hot day

The day was as a

3 listening to someone making a long speech in a monotonous voice

The speech was as boring as an empty book

1 a car broken down by the side of the road

2 the ocean on a calm day

3 an aeroplane flying through a storm

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

UNIT 19B: SIMILE, METAPHOR AND

The final storm

YOUR TURN 19.5

1 Describe the house. How do you know that it is old?

2 What happened to the house's owners?

98 PART C: EXPRESSING AND SHARING IDEAS LITERARY DEVICES

DIERS CLAUSES &

What happens to the house at the end of the

10 Give an example of personification used to describe each element of the storm.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

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