Muskan

· 10 Jan 2022

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What is Simile

We compare things all of the time. Whether it is a sunny day in winters or a miss universe till the date. Comparison comes everywhere. But how do we actually compare? Yes, comparison happens between two or more things. But does it make any sense when it comes to any language? Of course it makes sense because with the help of language, we communicate this comparison and this comparison is called simile. However, let’s try to understand it in detail What is simile?

What is simile?
A simile is a type of figure of speech. A simile compares two different things by using the words “like” or “as.” The aim of simile is to describe one thing in a better manner by comparing it with another thing which might be completely different to what you are comparing it with. But their quality or characteristic matches with each other. Eg.

1.    The baby is sleeping like a koala.
Here, if you will notice, the baby is compared with a koala. Now, the baby is not a koala because it does not look like a koala but a koala is considered a lazy sweet animal. Therefore, the baby is being compared to the koala by using word- like

2.    His sister is as soft as cotton.
Again, in the above sentence, a sister cannot be cotton but as her quality of being soft matches with the cotton. Therefore, the sister is being compared with the cotton by using the word- as

How does a simile function?
Simile is simply a way and literary term to make your writing more catchy and interesting. In simile, hyperbole or exaggeration is used often to emphasize a particular thing. It is very much poetic and subtle in nature. It generates concrete images. But do not confuse yourself with metaphor (another figure of speech). Metaphor is also a comparing literary device but here the comparison is made by describing something with another different thing without using “like” or “as”. Eg. The baby is a koala. (Here, the baby is not a koala, but perhaps the baby's sleeping characteristics are similar to a koala. That is why the baby is called a koala.)

How to write a good simile?
Similes are the easiest comparisons to make because it follows a particular formula. You just need to add like or as. Eg. A is like a B. Similes spice up the writings and also grasp the audience's attention and interest. To write good similes, just take care of the following points:

1.    Easy and clear: Keep your similes simple and clear. You do not have to keep it like William Shakespeare. However, decide the comparing objects and the context of comparison to fit the simile in the scene. There you go. Your simile must match the context and scene.
2.    Visual comparison: Always paint the picture in your mind before writing it on the sheet. And, don’t forget to make sure that the simile you are using must be vivid.
3.    Original: Originality is quite important to make your work unique, so rather avoid using the similes which have already been used in the past.

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