Reading Skills - Metaphors and Similes

A simile is a comparison between two unlike things that have something in common. A simile always uses the words like or as to make the comparison.

Example:

The man slipped through the forest like a shadow.

In this sentence the man slipping is compared to a shadow (two unlike things) and the word like is used, so this is a simile.

A metaphor is a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that have something in common. The comparison is made without the use of like or as.

Example:

The piece of wood was a weapon, just like I thought.

In the sentence above from Weasel, wood is compared to the weapon. The sentence DOES NOT say the wood was like a weapon, so this sentence contains a metaphor.

Directions - Determine which type of figurative language is used for each item below. Write metaphor or simile on the line beside each sentence to state whether it contains a metaphor or a simile.

1. ________________ I had the feeling he might turn and run, like an animal that senses danger.
2. ________________ You're the oldest, and you're the man of the house when I'm away.
3. ________________ The river looked like it was on fire, all pink and orange and bright.
4. ________________ They said he was part man and part animal and called him wild and bloodthirsty.
5. ________________ The Shawnee named him 'Weasel" in their language because he hunted them down just like a weasel.
6. ________________ Some, the ones Mama used to call her treasures, were from faraway places like China and Mexico.
7. ________________ The farm looked like it was made from the little carved wooden toys Pa an Mama had bought for me from Isaac the Peddler's sack.
8. ________________ The shadows were getting longer, making deep pockets of darkness.
9. ________________ Weasel's face was twisted up like a fist, and his hand clenched the knife and pulled it from the earth.
10. ________________ I cut out his tongue, and while he watched like the helpless worm he's turned into, I killed his squaw and the half-breed animal growing inside her!
11. ________________ I didn't much like the way Weasel was staring at me. It reminded me of the look in Gideon Thurstan's eyes when he'd come to help us at slaughtering time.
12. ________________ But I felt as helpless as a pig led to slaughter, hog-tied as I was on the floor.
13. ________________ Pa had said Weasel was a creature of the night, and I reckoned he had been going home to sleep as the sun came up.
14. ________________ All the things I wanted to say got stuck in a big ball in the back of my throat and stayed there.
15. ________________ Molly was looking at me in a puzzled way, like I was a stranger.

Finish each of the following sentences with a simile.

1. Nathan was as angry as ______________________________________________.
2. Weasel was as mean as ______________________________________________.
3. Pa was as sick as a __________________________________________________.
4. Ezra was as quiet as a _______________________________________________.
5. Molly was as helpful as a _____________________________________________.

Finish each of the following sentences with a metaphor.

1. Nathan was a _____________________ when he was angry.
2. Weasel was a _____________________ when he was mean.
3. Pa was a _______________________ when he was sick.
4. Ezra was a ________________________ when he was quiet.
5. Molly was a _______________________ when she was helpful.

----------Key----------

1. simile
2. metaphor
3. simile
4. metaphor
5. simile
6. metaphor
7. simile
8. metaphor
9. simile
10. simile
11. metaphor
12. simile
13. metaphor
14. metaphor
15. simile