GOLDEN STARS MONTESSORI ACADEMYSUBJECT: Literature-in-English
CLASS: JSS 3
TOPIC: Review of Literary Terms in Poetry (Metaphor and Simile)
TERM: First Term
Welcome to the world of poetry! As a JSS 3 student, you are at a stage where you are not just reading stories, but you are learning to look beneath the surface of words to find deeper meanings. Poetry is often called "the economical use of words." Poets don't have the space that novelists have, so they use special tools called Literary Devices or Figures of Speech to paint vivid pictures in our minds.
Think of literary devices as the "spices" in a pot of Jollof rice. Without them, the poem might be informative, but it wouldn't be "tasty" or exciting. Today, we are reviewing two of the most powerful tools in a poet's toolkit: Simile and Metaphor. While they both help us compare things, they do so in different and unique ways.
A Simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things that share a similar quality. The most important thing to remember about a simile is that it is a direct comparison. It uses "connecting words" to show the reader exactly what is being compared.
In a simile, we use the words "as" or "like" to create the bridge between two objects. For example, if I say, "The student is as quiet as a mouse," I am comparing a human being to a rodent. They are not the same thing, but they share the quality of being "quiet."
Poets use similes because they make descriptions more relatable. Instead of just saying "the water was cold," a poet might say "the water was like needles of ice on my skin." This helps the reader feel exactly what the poet is describing.
A Metaphor is also a comparison, but it is much bolder and more "hidden" than a simile. While a simile says something is like something else, a metaphor steps out and says that something IS something else. It is an implied or indirect comparison.
In a metaphor, the poet identifies one object with another. For example, instead of saying "The king is as brave as a lion" (Simile), a metaphor would say, "The king is a lion in battle." We know the king hasn't literally grown a mane and four paws; rather, the poet is transferring the strength and bravery of a lion directly onto the king.
Metaphors are powerful because they require the reader to use their imagination. They create a "mental fusion" where two different ideas become one in the reader's mind.
The easiest way to tell them apart is to look for the "bridge."
Below are five Similes. Your task is to rewrite each one as a Metaphor. Example: Simile: He eats like a pig. → Metaphor: He is a pig when he eats.
Write a short four-line poem about "Rain" or "A Football Match." You must include at least one Simile and one Metaphor in your poem. Underline the simile and circle the metaphor.
Identify whether the following sentences are Similes or Metaphors:
In this lesson, we have reviewed the two most common literary devices used in poetry: Simile and Metaphor.
As you read poems in your textbook or prepare for your BECE, always look out for these devices. Ask yourself: "What is the poet comparing? Why are they using this comparison? How does it make me feel?" Mastery of these terms is the first step to becoming a great literary critic and a better writer.