Similes and Metaphors: A Brief Review and Applied Practice Essential Question: How can we use figurative language like similes and metaphor to enhance our writing?   ANSWER: Using figurative language can help enhance our writing and take it from ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY.

Comparison Complexities Simile: Comparison Complexities

“O my love is like a red, red rose” Simile Is a comparison between two unlike things. A simile compares by using the words “LIKE” or “AS”. Simile “O my love is like a red, red rose”

Simile in Action: Using “LIKE” When you compare a noun to a noun, the simile is usually introduced by like: Example: After such long exposure to the direct sun, the leaves of the houseplant looked like pieces of overcooked bacon.

Simile in Action: Using “AS” When a verb or phrase is compared to another verb or phrase, the simile usually uses “as”. Example: Here is your pencil and paper. I want you to compete as the greatest hero would in the race of his life.

WE NEED TO HAVE CLEAR CONNECTIONS AND COMPARISONS!

What is the connection/comparison? “The sprinter raced around the track like a cheetah.” This simile has a clear connection OR comparison. What is the connection/comparison?

Unclear Connection “Life is like a bed of roses.” Life and roses are different in EVERY way. The writer must explain the connection for the reader.

Clear Connection “Life is like a bed of roses because it looks pretty, but can be very painful at times". According to this simile how are life and roses similar?

phor: Meta

Metaphor Defined Shows a relationship between things seemingly opposite to each other. Helps us recognize similarities between two things that are opposites Metaphor

Identifying Metaphor “I wonder when motor mouth is going to run out of gas.” Identify what is being compared .

Examples “You are my sunshine.”

Examples “You are my knight in shining armor.”

Katy Perry“Firework” Essential Question: How can we use figurative language to enhance our writing?  ANSWER: Using figurative language can help enhance our writing and take it from ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY.

“Firework” lyrics Songwriters: Dean, Esther; Eriksen, Mikkel; Hermansen, Tor Erik; Perry, Katy; Wilhelm, Sandy Julien SIMILE – Katy Perry is comparing how a plastic bag drifts through the air with no purpose or direction to how she feels in her life – constantly drifting with no direction. “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting through the wind Wanting to start again”

“Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards One blow from caving in” SIMILE – Katy Perry is comparing her life to a “house of cards,” describing how easily a thin piece of paper (a card) can fall over just as she herself could be “blown” over or “cave in”.

“Do you ever feel already buried deep METAPHOR – Katy Perry is comparing how ‘down and out’ she feels. She feels like she is so down, or sad, she is “six feet under” meaning, she is almost buried underground. If one is buried underground, no one can hear their voice. Katy Perry is trying to describe how she feels she has no voice, or no one is listening to her. “Do you ever feel already buried deep Six feet under scream But no one seems to hear a thing”

“Do you know that there's still a chance for you ‘Cause there's a spark in you You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July” Imagery – when the author paints a picture with his/her words. What picture does Katy Perry paint here with her words? {HINT: What is the “spark” in all of us?} ANSWER – Katy Perry is painting the image of a spark, or a firework, a “light” in all of us that shines. The “spark” could be our talents, our gifts, our kind words to others, a variety of things. SIMILE – Katy Perry is comparing the excitement and surprise of the Fourth of July to how confident we should be as individuals. Just as the Fourth of July is spectacular, so should we feel in our daily lives.

(Chorus) “Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what you’re worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky Baby you're a firework Come on let your colors burst You're gonna leave 'em fallin' down” METAPHOR – Katy Perry is comparing us (the reader) to a firework. Just as a firework explodes and gives forth light, so do we. Our “colors” make us unique, just like a peacock’s feathers.

“You don't have to feel like a waste of space SIMILE – Katy Perry is comparing how one might feel out of place like a “waste of space”. Katy Perry is trying to emphasize that we each have our special place and no one can replace us. We are all valuable. “You don't have to feel like a waste of space You're original, cannot be replaced If you only knew what the future holds After a hurricane comes a rainbow”

“Maybe you're the reason why all the doors are closed So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow And when it's time, you'll know You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July” SIMILE – Katy Perry is comparing how our “heart will blow” when we let ourselves shine. We will be happy and feel free, this is why our “heart will blow”. She compares this to a “lightning bolt”. A lightning bolt is shocking, exciting and strong, just as Katy Perry is encouraging us to be in our daily lives.

(Chorus) “ 'Cause baby you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, oh As you shoot across the sky Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colors burst Make 'em go, oh You're gonna leave 'em falling down”

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon METAPHOR – There is a double meaning here. Katy Perry is comparing how loud and bright a firework can be (us) , to how bright the moon is in the sky. “Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon It's always been inside of you, you, you And now it's time to let it through”

“ 'Cause baby you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, oh As you shoot across the sky Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colors burst Make 'em go, oh You're gonna leave 'em falling down Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon”