Happy New Year, Writers!
Yesterday we talked about figurative language and how we use it to make our writing more interesting and descriptive. The two forms of figurative language we explored were simile and metaphor. Here are some reminders:
A simile is a comparison of two unlike things, using the words "like" or "as".
Examples of simile: Our math book is like an elephant in my backpack.
After five days of camping, my hair felt as greasy as fried chicken!
A metaphor is a comparison of two unlike things that usually uses a form of the verb "to be". A metaphor comes across as a stronger statement than a simile because it doesn't just say something is "like" something else, it insists that it "IS" something else.
Examples of metaphor: The spaghetti was an impossibly tangled ball of yarn on my plate.
Silent and still, my dad is a rock when he sleeps.
Remember that simple descriptions using adjectives or closely related comparisons aren't really examples of simile or metaphor. Think about why "The shark was like a big predator of the sea" isn't a good example of simile. Why is "My mom is strong and smart" not a metaphor?
Okay. Now for the part you love! Because we often decide to edit our stories by adding figurative language, upgrade at least 3 of the rather dull sentences below by turning them into examples of simile or metaphor. Yes, you can add or omit adjectives or make other changes as well. Share your creations in the comments section. For an extra challenge, try turning a sentence into a simile and then into a metaphor OR dream up additional examples all your own. Let the ideas flow out like sweat down the back of a marathon runner! :)
Art class was messy. The glue was sticky. The scissors were sharp. The paint was flying. Construction paper was everywhere. Glitter covered the floor. The students were happy! It was fun!
Yesterday we talked about figurative language and how we use it to make our writing more interesting and descriptive. The two forms of figurative language we explored were simile and metaphor. Here are some reminders:
A simile is a comparison of two unlike things, using the words "like" or "as".
Examples of simile: Our math book is like an elephant in my backpack.
After five days of camping, my hair felt as greasy as fried chicken!
A metaphor is a comparison of two unlike things that usually uses a form of the verb "to be". A metaphor comes across as a stronger statement than a simile because it doesn't just say something is "like" something else, it insists that it "IS" something else.
Examples of metaphor: The spaghetti was an impossibly tangled ball of yarn on my plate.
Silent and still, my dad is a rock when he sleeps.
Remember that simple descriptions using adjectives or closely related comparisons aren't really examples of simile or metaphor. Think about why "The shark was like a big predator of the sea" isn't a good example of simile. Why is "My mom is strong and smart" not a metaphor?
Okay. Now for the part you love! Because we often decide to edit our stories by adding figurative language, upgrade at least 3 of the rather dull sentences below by turning them into examples of simile or metaphor. Yes, you can add or omit adjectives or make other changes as well. Share your creations in the comments section. For an extra challenge, try turning a sentence into a simile and then into a metaphor OR dream up additional examples all your own. Let the ideas flow out like sweat down the back of a marathon runner! :)
Art class was messy. The glue was sticky. The scissors were sharp. The paint was flying. Construction paper was everywhere. Glitter covered the floor. The students were happy! It was fun!
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