When I see birches bend to left and rightAcross the lines of straighter darker trees,I like to think some boy's been swinging them.But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay.As ice-storms do. Often you must have seen themLoaded with ice a sunny winter morningAfter a rain. They click upon themselvesAs the breeze rises, and turn many-coloredAs the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shellsShattering and avalanching on the snow-crustSuch heaps of broken glass to sweep awayYou'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed

- excerpt from "Birches" by Robert Frost

Bell Work 9/13/11

Find examples of words and phrases from the below poem that "show"

Identifying Similes and Metaphors

-They make our writing more interesting

-They help give a clearer picture of what is being described

-They help us to show rather than tell

-They help us to say a lot in just a few words

Why use figures of speech?

Similescompare two unlike things using the words like or as

*

He swims like a fish.

What does that mean?

Metaphors

* Compare two unlike thingsdoes not use like or as

My brother's room is a pigpen.

What does that mean?

*

Writing Metaphors

These steps will help you create metaphors:

1. Choose a noun.

2. Ask yourself "What can I compare my noun to?" Example: roof

3. Write your metaphor.Example: The umbrella was a roof over my

head.

umbrellaExample:

Similes

Your eyes sparkle like a ___________.

Her teeth were as white as a __________.

Compare two unlike things using the words like or as

My love was like a __________.

School is as strict as a __________.

He swims like a ___________.

Mrs. Hughes runs as slow as a ________.

Metaphorscompares two unlike

things does not use like or as

My dad is a _________ in the mornings.

The _____________ is a green carpet.

My brother's room is a _______________.

Her shirt is a ____________ of colors.

The red apple was a shiny ____________.

Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that paint a picture for the reader by comparing one thing to something else.

Decide whether each of the following sentences contains a simile or a metaphor. Write your answers on the lines.

1. The news travelled as swiftly as the breeze in the birches. __________

2. John was a streaking greyhound in the 100-yard dash._____________

3. The smoke was a slithering snake rising into the still air.___________

4. The baby's blond hair shone like a golden halo._____________

Use the highlighter pen to underline the two things being compared.

1. My brother moves like a snail.2. My dad sleeps like a log.3. The car sparkled like a diamond.4. The cookie was as hard as a rock.5. My friend eats like a pig.

In each of the following sentences, circle the things that are being compared.

1. The forsythia bush, a yellow geyser, bubbled over the lawn.

2. Those exotic wineglasses, colorful tulips, stand upright on their stems in the fresh wind.

3. The dead leaves of last year's roses are like hands clapping against the fence.

4. The sky is a billowing blue tablecloth suspended by the wind.

5. The bassoon looks like a piece of plumbing and sounds like a mournful goose.

6. The plastic deck chairs glint like hard candy.

7. After he lost his daughter in the accident, he was an empty shell.

Alfred Noyes, used many similes and metaphors in his famous poem The Highwayman. How many similes and how many metaphors can you find in the first stanza of his poem?

The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees, The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,The road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor,And the highwayman came riding—Riding—riding—The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.

0 similes; 3 metaphors

Move box to see the answer.

Move around the ends of the sentences to make the most suitable comparisons.

A. Her hair floated above her head like

B. She ran as swiftly asC. The frightened boy sat as still

asD. The island juts like

E. In the wind, his coat leaked like F. His skin was as smooth as

G. The fragrance smothered him like

H. At night, the lit city looked like

a circuit board.

a gray cloud.

a sieve.

polished marble.a feather pillow.

a bone from the skin of the sea.

a deer.

a stone.

Put your imagination to work and make your own comparisons. In the spaces below, complete this sentence with two different metaphors:

The shadows moving along the wall were...

Work with a partner to create comparisons using similes and metaphors. You write the beginning of a sentence on the left side of the line. Then your partner completes the comparison with a simile or metaphor. Switch roles for the next sentence.

Write your own metaphors and similes.

Metaphors

1. The child was a ________________________.

2. The rain is ___________________________.

3. The eagle is __________________________.

4. This highway is _______________________.

5. The storm is __________________________.

Similes (remember to use like or as in your comparison)

1. The wet dog smelled _____________________________.

2. The ice was as smooth ___________________________.

3.Your coat is as soft ______________________________.

4. Anna's voice is _______________________________.

5. That student is as sharp ___________________________.

The following pages provide answers to the tasks in the lesson activity.

The following pages provide answers to the tasks in the lesson activity.

Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that paint a picture for the reader by comparing one thing to something else.

Decide whether each of the following sentences contains a simile or a metaphor. Write your answers on the lines.

1. The news travelled as swiftly as the breeze in the birches. simile

2. John was a streaking greyhound in the 100-yard dash. metaphor

3. The smoke was a slithering snake rising into the still air. metaphor

4. The baby's blond hair shone like a golden halo. simile

In each of the following sentences, circle the things that are being compared.

1. The forsythia bush, a yellow geyser, bubbled over the lawn.

2. Those exotic wineglasses, colorful tulips, stand upright on their stems in the fresh wind.

3. The dead leaves of last year's roses are like hands clapping against the fence.

4. The sky is a billowing blue tablecloth suspended by the wind.

5. The bassoon looks like a piece of plumbing and sounds like a mournful goose.

6. The plastic deck chairs glint like hard candy.

7. After he lost his daughter in the accident, he was an empty shell.

Move around the ends of the sentences to make the most suitable comparisons.

A. Her hair floated above her head like

B. She ran as swiftly asC. The frightened boy sat as still

asD. The island juts like

E. In the wind, his coat leaked like F. His skin was as smooth as

G. The fragrance smothered him like

H. At night, the lit city looked like

a circuit board.

a gray cloud.

a sieve.polished marble.a feather pillow.

a bone from the skin of the sea.

a deer.a stone.

Attachments