Metaphor and Simile in Poems - What"s the Difference?
If one were to use a simile in every day life, they might say something like: "This bread is like a brick.
" Some might use it in a poem as to say: "Being one with nature is like being one with heaven.
" In every day life someone might use a metaphor as to say: "My office is hell with fluorescent lighting.
" In a poem, one might use a metaphor as to say: "Life is hell on earth.
" When one is using a metaphor or simile in a poem it really doesn't make all that much difference whether the poet knows the difference between the two.
All that really matters is they get their message across the right way.
If one wants to know the difference it is simple, sixth grade language study.
Anybody could really know the difference between a metaphor and a simile.
This article is for people who don't know the difference.
That doesn't mean that those people are unintelligent.
However, most people are taught different things in school and/or by their parents while they were growing up.
So if you are fairly educated but don't know the difference between a metaphor and a simile, this article is for you.
Suppose someone were to say: "This trash smells like something died in it.
" Because it has the word "like" in it, it is considered a simile.
If someone were to say "Your garden is paradise," it would be considered a metaphor because it does not have the word "like" in it.
For something to be a metaphor it must not contain the word "like" in it.
Here are some examples for what a metaphor is: "Your beauty is an entrancing light.
" "My life is a barrel of fish.
" "Your hand is holding my heart.
" "I am a boring log.
" Some examples of similes are: "Your looks are like that of a goddess.
" "My life is like a boring rut.
" "Your sense of spirituality is like a horror film.
" "My sense of spirituality is like a transcended level of enlightenment.
" When one uses a metaphor, it doesn't always say that something is something.
For example, Nirvana's song "Rape Me" was a metaphor and didn't actually refer to sexual assault.
There are many more metaphors than there are similes.
A simile is restricted to the word "like.
" A metaphor is not restricted to very much at all if anything.
" Some might use it in a poem as to say: "Being one with nature is like being one with heaven.
" In every day life someone might use a metaphor as to say: "My office is hell with fluorescent lighting.
" In a poem, one might use a metaphor as to say: "Life is hell on earth.
" When one is using a metaphor or simile in a poem it really doesn't make all that much difference whether the poet knows the difference between the two.
All that really matters is they get their message across the right way.
If one wants to know the difference it is simple, sixth grade language study.
Anybody could really know the difference between a metaphor and a simile.
This article is for people who don't know the difference.
That doesn't mean that those people are unintelligent.
However, most people are taught different things in school and/or by their parents while they were growing up.
So if you are fairly educated but don't know the difference between a metaphor and a simile, this article is for you.
Suppose someone were to say: "This trash smells like something died in it.
" Because it has the word "like" in it, it is considered a simile.
If someone were to say "Your garden is paradise," it would be considered a metaphor because it does not have the word "like" in it.
For something to be a metaphor it must not contain the word "like" in it.
Here are some examples for what a metaphor is: "Your beauty is an entrancing light.
" "My life is a barrel of fish.
" "Your hand is holding my heart.
" "I am a boring log.
" Some examples of similes are: "Your looks are like that of a goddess.
" "My life is like a boring rut.
" "Your sense of spirituality is like a horror film.
" "My sense of spirituality is like a transcended level of enlightenment.
" When one uses a metaphor, it doesn't always say that something is something.
For example, Nirvana's song "Rape Me" was a metaphor and didn't actually refer to sexual assault.
There are many more metaphors than there are similes.
A simile is restricted to the word "like.
" A metaphor is not restricted to very much at all if anything.
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