It’s like. . . you know!

In addition to using descriptive words to create imagery, authors often use figurative language to create a very vivid, or clear, picture in our minds. Figurative language can also give us a better understanding of things that may not be clear to us otherwise. There are many types of figurative language, but first, we’ll look at similes.

Simile

A simile is a type of figurative language where two things are compared using the words “like” or “as.” Think of the word “similar.” Similes can help us get a clearer picture in our mind, when we may not otherwise understand exactly what an author is trying to describe to us.

BE CAREFUL: Just because a sentence uses “like” or “as” does NOT necessarily make it a simile. You have to evaluate the line and determine if two things are really being compared. If I say, “I like ice cream,” I’m not comparing myself to ice cream. I’m just telling you that I enjoy it.

Check out Uncle Kracker’s song Smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffej15-Dgl0

Lyrics:

"Smile"

You're better than the best
I'm lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler than the flip-side of my pillow (that's right)
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it's okay (yea, it's okay)
And the moments when my good times start to fade

[Chorus:]
You make me smile like the sun, fall outta bed
Sing like a bird,
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record,
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like fool,
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold,
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

Even when you're gone
Somehow you come along just like a flower pokin through the sidewalk crack
And just like that
You steal away the rain
And just like that

[Chorus]

Don't know how I lived without you
'Cause everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like fool, Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

[Chorus]

(Oh, you make me smile)
Oh you make me smille
(Oh, you make me smile)
Oh you make me smille

Uncle Cracker uses similes to convey to the audience how happy a woman makes him feel. Which line conveys his feelings better?

I like her a lot.

“You make me shine like gold.”

He compares his feelings to the shine of gold to let us know how happy this woman makes him.

Open up a Google Doc and title it “Similes.”

Write down all of the similes that you find in the song. Then, answer the questions below about each one.

1. What two things are being compared?

2. Why is the simile used? What is it trying to show?

Read the passage below from David Lubar’s Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie. In this part of the story, the main character Scott and his friends are discussing what they think high school will be like.

“Patrick shook his head. ‘Nope. Tomb Raider, for sure. We’ll get eaten alive if we aren’t careful, but we’ll be surrounded by amazing stuff.’

‘Right. Amazing stuff,’ Mitch said. He rubbed his hands together as if he were about to dive into a juicy burger. ‘High school girls. Hundreds of ‘em.’ (3).”

Why does Lubar compare Mitch’s action to getting ready to dive into a burger? What does that tell us about Mitch?

Think about how you felt when you first started middle school. Write a paragraph describing those feelings, and use similes to give your reader a better understanding of what your first day of middle school was like.