Metaphors

Metaphors are one of the most beautiful ways to enrich writing. Some examples of metaphor:

This is a wild-goose chase.

She thinks a thousand dollars is chicken feed.

He's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

He's a fish out of water.

They pulled strings to get things done.

He has his head in the clouds.

That's a piece of cake.

It's raining cats and dogs.

That's the root of the matter.

The senator is a lame duck.

• Pictures--Have students draw a picture of the image created in their mind from a metaphor. Use the examples above. Take time to discuss the pictures. For example, with the metaphor "It's raining cats and dogs." many students will draw pictures of cats and dogs coming down in a rain storm. Once you have praised them for their picture, ask them what raining cats and dogs means. Have any of them been in a rain that was falling so hard that it might seem like it was raining cats and dogs? This exercise is excellent for any age student.

• Silly John stories--Tell the students about "silly John" who takes metaphors seriously.

  When silly John's mother told him to "put out the light," he took the light bulb and put it out in the yard.

  When silly John's mother told him "dress the chicken for dinner," he put clothes on a chicken meant for baking.

  Can any of the students think up silly things that Silly John might do. Use some of the examples above or ask the students for input.

• Similes--Similes can be similar to metaphors, in that they make a comparison between unlike things. However, similes typically use the words like or as to make the comparison. The comparison is meant to enhance meanings. For example:

  He's as mean as a bear.

  She runs fast like a fox.

  Glory is like a circle in the water. (William Shakespeare)

  Have students complete each of the following as similes.

  Hot pizza tastes like . . .

  The skin of a peach feels like . . .

  Jumping into cold water on a hot day feels like . . .

  Trees in autumn look like . . .

  Being lost in a fog looks like . . .

  The dog is as big as . . .

  The horse runs as fast as . . .

  Rain on a roof sounds like . . .

  To teach the difference between metaphors and similes have the students compare the following. Have them identify which is the simile and which the metaphor. Ask the students the main difference between the two in these examples.

  He's a fox. He's like a fox.

  He's as mean as a bear. He's a mean bear.

  He's a wolf in sheep's clothing. He's sneaky like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

  He's clumsy and uncomfortable like a fish out of water. He's a fish out of water.

  "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." [William Shakespeare] In life we seem to follow a script like actors on a stage.