Meaning, Examples and Uses of Similes and Metaphor

English Language 

Structure / Grammar 

Second Term Lesson Note

Week 6

Primary 6 

Similes and Metaphors: meaning, Examples and Uses 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to 

1. Define similes and Metaphor
2. Compares things that are related by using similes 
3. Use similes correctly in sentences 
4. Turn simile into metaphor

Entry Behaviour

Pupils have been taught how to make comparison of things that are related.

Young learners have previous knowledge of metaphor in their previous classes

Instructional Materials

• Audio Visual Resources 
• Flash cards 
• Online Dictionary 
• Recommended English Textbook 
• Chart 
• Hard copy dictionary 

Methods of Teaching

• Class Discussion
• Group Discussion
• Asking Questions
• Explanation
• Role Modelling
• Role Delegation

Reference Materials 

• Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum

Content 

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes something as if it were something else, in order to make a comparison or to provide a more vivid or imaginative description. For example:

• “The city was a jungle.”
• “Her words were music to my ears.”

In the first example, the metaphor compares the city to a jungle, suggesting that it is chaotic and chaotic. In the second example, the metaphor compares the person’s words to music, suggesting that they were pleasing or enjoyable to the listener.

Metaphors can be used in various forms of writing and speaking to add depth and interest to the language, and to help convey complex ideas and emotions in a more relatable way.

More examples of metaphors 

1. “The road ahead is a long and winding one.”
2. “Her heart was a flower that only bloomed for him.”
3. “The classroom was a circus, with students juggling multiple tasks and projects.”
4. “His words were a venom that poisoned the minds of his listeners.”
5. “Her laughter was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.”
6. “The stars are diamonds in the night sky.”
7. “The mountains were giants standing tall and proud.”
8. “The ocean was a vast and endless blue.”
9. “Her smile was a beacon of light in the darkness.”
10. “His thoughts were a jumble of tangled threads.”

What is a simile?

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” Similes are used to describe something by drawing a comparison between it and something else, in order to provide a more vivid or imaginative description. For example:

• “She sings like a nightingale.”
• “He runs as fast as a cheetah.”

In the first example, the simile compares the person’s singing to that of a nightingale, suggesting that it is beautiful or melodic. In the second example, the simile compares the person’s running speed to that of a cheetah, suggesting that it is fast.

Similes can be used in various forms of writing and speaking to add depth and interest to the language, and to help convey complex ideas and emotions in a more relatable way.

More examples of Similes. 

1. “She was as graceful as a dancer.”
2. “He was as strong as an ox.”
3. “The flowers were as bright as the sun.”
4. “The sky was as blue as a sapphire.”
5. “She was as quiet as a mouse.”
6. “He was as stubborn as a mule.”
7. “The music was as soothing as a lullaby.”
8. “The ice was as smooth as glass.”
9. “She was as fast as a cheetah.”
10. “He was as sly as a fox.”

How To Turn Similes To Metaphors 

More examples of Similes that are turned to metaphors 

1. Simile: “She was as graceful as a dancer.” Metaphor: “She was a dancer.”
2. Simile: “He was as strong as an ox.” Metaphor: “He was an ox.”
3. Simile: “The sky was as blue as a sapphire.” Metaphor: “The sky was a sapphire.”
4. Simile: “She was as quiet as a mouse.” Metaphor: “She was a mouse.”
5. Simile: “He was as stubborn as a mule.” Metaphor: “He was a mule.”
6. Simile: “The music was as soothing as a lullaby.” Metaphor: “The music was a lullaby.”
7. Simile: “The ice was as smooth as glass.” Metaphor: “The ice was glass.”
8. Simile: “She was as fast as a cheetah.” Metaphor: “She was a cheetah.”
9. Simile: “He was as sly as a fox.” Metaphor: “He was a fox.”
10. Simile: “The book was as interesting as a movie.” Metaphor: “The book was a movie.”

Presentation

1. Introduction:

• Write the word “simile” on the board and ask pupils if they know what it means.
• Explain that a simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words “like” or “as.”
• Write the following simile on the board: “She sings like a nightingale.”
• Ask pupils to identify the simile in the sentence and explain what it means.

2. Practice:

• Distribute the textbook with simile examples to the pupils.
• Have them work in pairs to identify the similes in the sentences and explain what they mean.
• As a class, discuss the answers and have pupils share their explanations.

3. Transformation:

• Explain that a simile can be turned into a metaphor by removing the word “like” or “as” and directly stating that one thing is the other thing being compared to.
• Write the following simile on the board: “He runs as fast as a cheetah.”
• Ask pupils to turn the simile into a metaphor by removing the word “as.”
• Have them share their answers and discuss as a class.

4. Application:

• Have pupils work in pairs to turn the remaining similes on the handout into metaphors.
• As a class, discuss the answers and have pupils share their transformed sentences.

5. Conclusion:

• Review the main points of the lesson: a simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as,” and a simile can be turned into a metaphor by removing “like” or “as” and directly stating that one thing is the other.
• Ask pupils to share one thing they learned about similes and metaphors during the lesson.
• Assign the homework: have pupils write five original similes and turn them into metaphors.

Assessment:

• Observe pupils during the class discussion and pair work to assess their understanding of similes and metaphors.
• Collect and review the homework to assess pupils’ ability to create and transform similes into metaphors.
• Administer a quiz on similes and metaphors to assess pupils’ retention of the lesson material.

Evaluation 

1. In the following sentence, “She was ________ graceful as a dancer,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “She” B) “was” C) “as” D) “a” E) “dancer”
2. In the following sentence, “He was ________ strong as an ox,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “He” B) “was” C) “as” D) “an” E) “ox”
3. In the following sentence, “The sky was ________ blue as a sapphire,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “The” B) “was” C) “as” D) “a” E) “sapphire”
4. In the following sentence, “She was ________ quiet as a mouse,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “She” B) “was” C) “as” D) “a” E) “mouse”
5. In the following sentence, “He was ________ stubborn as a mule,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “He” B) “was” C) “as” D) “a” E) “mule”
6. In the following sentence, “The music was ________ soothing as a lullaby,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “The” B) “was” C) “as” D) “a” E) “lullaby”
7. In the following sentence, “The ice was ________ smooth as glass,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “The” B) “was” C) “as” D) “smooth” E) “glass”
8. In the following sentence, “She was ________ fast as a cheetah,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “She” B) “was” C) “as” D) “a” E) “cheetah”
9. In the following sentence, “He was ________ sly as a fox,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “He” B) “was” C) “as” D) “a” E) “fox”
10. In the following sentence, “The book was ________ interesting as a movie,” which word could be removed to turn the simile into a metaphor? A) “The” B) “was” C) “as” D) “interesting” E) “movie”