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What is a simile?

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as."

What is Simile?

Simile is an art of comparing two things that are different but both possess some similar quality.

Read the following explanation to know more:

1. She is like a rose.

In this simile "she" is compared to "rose". Now, "rose" and "she" are different things, but they possess one similar characteristic in common, namely "beauty".

2. He runs like a cheetah.

In this simile "he" is compared to "cheetah". Now, "cheetah" and "he" are different things, but they possess one similar characteristic in common, namely "speed".

There are three key features of a simile:

First, it always uses 'like' or 'as' to signal a comparison.
Second, it compares two different things — not things that are already alike.
Third, a simile's main goal is to create vivid imagery, making your descriptions more engaging and memorable."

The word 'simile' comes from the Latin word ‘similis’ which means ‘likeness’. It is used to compare two things that are different but possess a similar quality.

Similes Used in Everyday Conversation

We often use similes in our everyday conversation. Here are the some common similes of every day speech:

as black as pitch
as proud as peacock
as clear as crystal
as good as gold
as old as the hills
as pale as death
as white as a sheet
as swift as an arrow
as greedy as a pig
as dry as dust
as deaf as an adder

Examples of Simile in Poetry

The bride hath paced into the hall.
Red as a rose is she. -Coleridge

The water like a witch's oils
Burnt green, and blue and white. -Coleridge

Drive my dead thoughts over the universe.
Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth. -Shelley

The child shows the man
As morning shows the day. -Milton

Oh, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!
I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed! – Shelley

Functions of Simile

Simile helps to understand and feel the poem by creating a richer and more engaging experience for the reader of a poem. Here's how each contributes:

(i) Simile Helps Understanding.

Simile compares an unfamiliar thing to a familiar one which creates a clear picture in the reader's mind. This helps the reader visualize and understand the unfamiliar concept clearly. Here is an example:

Her smile was like the sun.

In this simile, the author compares the smile of the unknown woman to the sun which is familiar for its brightness and warmth. This comparison helps readers understand the extent of the woman's happiness or friendliness, creating a vivid image in their minds.

(ii) Simile Evokes Feeling.

Simile connects the poem's subject to something that has emotional weight. By doing this, simile evokes emotions in the reader and makes them feel the poem in their heart.

Her tears flowed like rivers, carving valleys of sorrow in her heart.

In this simile, the author compares the flowing of the woman's tears to rivers. The current of rivers is powerful and wash away everything that comes before it. By comparing her tears to flowing rivers, the author helps the readers feel the weight of her emotions in their own hearts, creating a powerful emotional connection to the poem's subject.

(iii) Simile Adds Imagery.

Simile is a great way to add imagery (mental pictures) to your writing. That’s how it makes a better connection between a reader and the text.

The stars twinkled like diamonds scattered across black velvet.

Here, the simile creates a beautiful image of a starry night. It compares the stars to diamonds, suggesting their brilliance and sparkle. The black velvet represents the darkness of space, making the stars stand out even more. This simile evokes a sense of wonder and awe at the vastness of the universe.

(iv) Simile Helps to Explaining Difficult Concept.

Simile helps to explain a difficult concept by comparing it to something that's easier to understand. For this reason, people use simile in their conversations and poets use it in their writings.

His love for her was like a lighthouse in a storm, guiding her through the darkest of nights.

Love is a complex and abstract concept and you can never make anybody knows how deeply you love him or her. But by comparing the man's love for the woman to a lighthouse in a storm, the author makes it easier for readers to understand the depth of the man's love. A lighthouse serves as a beacon of light and safety amidst turbulent and chaotic seas, guiding ships to safety. Similarly, the man's love provides comfort, guidance, and stability to the woman during difficult times.

Types of Simile

There are two kinds of simile:

Simple simile and
Epic simile.

(1) Simple simile: In a simple simile the resemblance bet- ween two different things is expressed briefly and directly without enlargement.

(2) Epic simile: An epic simile dissimilar is resorted to compare, as in a simple simile, o objects, but the point of likeness is elaborated to an extent as to give birth to a short descriptive poem in itself. This type of simile is also known as developed simile or Homeric simile.