Navigation
Practice finding and labeling similes, metaphors, and personification in a full-length short story.
Have you ever read a sentence that felt so real you could almost smell the salty sea air or feel a cold wind on your neck? That isn't magic—it's the power of figurative language turning plain words into a 3D movie in your mind!
1. Look for the comparison words: 'like' or 'as'. 2. Identify the two things being compared. 3. Example: 'The old treasure map was as thin as a potato chip.' 4. Here, the map is compared to a potato chip to show how fragile and crunchy it feels.
Quick Check
In the sentence 'The diamond sparkled like a fallen star,' what two things are being compared?
Answer
The diamond and a fallen star.
A metaphor is a stronger way to compare things. Instead of saying something is like something else, a metaphor says it is that thing. It doesn't mean the person literally turned into an object; it means they share the same qualities. For example, 'The sun was a golden coin in the sky.' The sun isn't actually money, but it is round, bright, and valuable. Metaphors create deep, emotional connections in a story. They help the reader feel the weight or importance of a moment without using extra words.
1. Identify the 'is' or 'was' statement: 'The classroom was a zoo.' 2. Ask: Is it literally a zoo? No. 3. Ask: What quality is being shared? Loudness and chaos. 4. Conclusion: The author wants us to feel how crazy the room is.
Quick Check
True or False: 'The snow is a white blanket' is a metaphor.
Answer
True
Personification happens when an author gives human qualities to non-human things, like animals, objects, or ideas. It makes the world of the story feel alive and active. Instead of saying 'The wind blew,' an author might say, 'The wind whispered secrets through the trees.' Wind doesn't have a mouth or secrets, but this makes the scene feel mysterious. By using personification, authors help you relate to the setting as if it were a character in the story.
Read this passage: 'The jungle vines reached out to grab Leo's ankles, while the ancient ruins watched him with stony eyes.' 1. Identify the objects: Vines and Ruins. 2. Identify the human actions: Reaching/grabbing and watching. 3. Analyze the mood: This makes the jungle feel dangerous and alive, as if it's trying to stop the explorer.
Which sentence is a simile?
What is the author's purpose in saying 'The thunder grumbled like an old man'?
'The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky' is an example of personification.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to remember the 'formula' for a simile and how it differs from a metaphor.
Practice Activity
While reading your favorite book tonight, try to find one example of personification. Ask yourself: 'Why did the author make this object act like a person?'