Similes and Metaphors Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.4.5.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Both similes and metaphors compare two very different things in interesting ways. In many cases the reader is left to use their imagination to visualize this relationship. Great writes cannot only make the comparison vivid, but make it factual and entertaining. We often use these forms of figurative language without even realizing it. These literary devices help authors ensure that they capture the imagination of their audience. They are forms of rhetorical figures of speech that attempt to establish a characterized relationship between different objects. The way in which they are presented to the readers helps them mold that comparison in their mind and paint visions in their head. These worksheets will also have students to make sense of these comparisons and ask you what the writer intended.

Similes and Metaphors Worksheets To Print:

Say it with a Simile - Finish up all the sentences that you start with. Using the prompts below, finish each sentence, using a comparison of your choice.

Describing People with Metaphors and Similes - The distinction here is very subtle in many instances. Read these statements and classify each sentence that you come across.

Understanding Similes - Match the similes to the meanings. I would also encourage students to highlight or underline where the comparison is in the sentence.

What Do They Mean By That? - You will find a ton of famous similes here. They were all written by very famous writers. Underline of them in the sentences. Then, underneath the sentence, write what you think it means.

Using Metaphors to Express Complex Ideas - Some writers are great at taking abstract ideas and making them easy for their readers to grasp. The famous playwright William Shakespeare was brilliant at portraying complex ideas using this technique. Let's see how he does it.

That Reminds Me Of Something I Ate Once... - Read each sentence. On the lines, write the two objects that are being compared.

Metaphor | Simile - Read each sentence below. Is it a metaphor (M) or a simile (S)? Write M or S in the box.

Lemons and Oranges - Cross out the word like or as in each simile. Then rewrite each simile as a metaphor.

The Poem as Metaphor - Poets often use metaphors in poetry. Sometimes a whole poem is written, expanding on a single metaphor. Read the poem. Then answer the questions.

Understanding Metaphors - Read each sentence. Then name the person, place or thing in the sentence that is being compared to the metaphor in bold.

Using Similes to Paint with Words - Write a simile to complete each sentence.

Writing Similes - Look around the classroom. Choose five objects. Write the name of each object on one of the lines below.

Halloween Similes - Have a class contest for Halloween. Who can come up with the spookiest similes? Fill in the blanks below.

Hard Times - Read the paragraphs, which are rich in simile and metaphor. Underline the metaphors and circle the similes.

The Power of Simile - You can use a simile to express powerful feelings. The quote above by Cicero is a perfect example.

What Are Similes and Metaphors?


A lot of times you have to compare the object of a sentence to certain things in order for the reader to understand better. Understanding the text better is not the sole purpose of this comparison. The comparison is also done so that the beauty of the text is enhanced. It gives a deeper meaning to the sentence. The comparison of things in a sentence is done with the help of similes and metaphors.


Similes and metaphors are two important elements that add beauty to the sentences. They let the reader dive into another world and imagine exactly what the author has been imagining. These forms of figurative language are helping elements of the sentence. They double the value of the context. Similes and metaphors help the author in comparing the object or subject of the sentence with completely different things that add more meaning to the sentence. While the function and purpose of this figurative language designed to create a comparison, they both differ from each other in a lot of ways. Here are explanations of similes and metaphors in detail.


Similes


A simile is an actual comparing method. This is because it equates one thing with another. The author uses a simile when he does not want any confusion in the text. Words that are used along with a simile by the writer in the text are like or as. Here are some examples of similes:

Jess is as beautiful as a princess.
Josh is as brave as a lion.


Metaphor


A metaphor is not exactly used for comparison. Instead, it lets the readers believe as if the subject or object is something else. It is not quite literally true, but it creates an effect. For example,

He could see a wave of terror wash over her.
Josh is a lion.


How Are Similes and Metaphors Used by Authors


Similes and metaphors are the most commonly used figurative elements in writing. They are deliberately used by authors for many reasons and show a writer's capability with words. Their presence in literal work enhances its importance and makes it sound more appealing. While there is a fine line between these two figures of speech in terms of their functions and status in a sentence, authors are likely to use metaphors and similes both for some specific reasons that are similar for the use of both.


Moreover, the generic conventions followed by the authors while using metaphors and similes are almost the same throughout the written works.


Here are some of the most common ways in which the two are used:


To Describe Things in Detail


An author is likely to introduce his/her point to the readers while using some of these types of comparisons. Their use makes it really easy for the author to describe whatever he or she is saying in detail and also makes it easier for the reader to understand whatever the writer is trying to convey. Metaphors and similes allow writers to add more and more description to whatever they are trying to describe using a very few, yet meaningful words.


To Evoke the Reader's Interest


A bland piece of writing sounds boring to the readers while the artistic use of metaphors and similes can easily convert a boring, dull, and plain piece into a beautiful piece of art.


Some Other Conventions Followed by Writers While Using Similes and Metaphors


Even when there are no hard and fast rules for their use, writers are likely to follow the following patterns in using these two figures of speech:

- One element from either the simile or metaphor is used in a single sentence.

- Writers generally try to avoid already and excessively used similes and metaphors and try creating their own, interesting figurative elements in their works.

- These are always used in less quantity in any text so that the writing does not sound mechanical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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