Learn the 3 Tools
1Simile — spotted by like or as.
‘As brave as a lion’, ‘ran like the wind’. The comparison is announced.
2Metaphor — the bolder claim.
‘The classroom was a zoo.’ No like, no as — the thing IS the image.
3Personification — humanising things.
Rain taps impatiently, shadows creep, engines cough — objects with intentions.
Worked Example
Identify the device and its effect: ‘The old house watched them through broken windows.’
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
No like/as! A direct ‘is’ claim is a metaphor.
Nobody brought animals! ‘The classroom was a zoo’ means chaos and noise — comprehension questions test this understanding.
Half marks! Naming ‘personification’ scores 1; adding what it suggests and how the reader feels scores full.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Simile: comparison with like or as.
- Metaphor: says one thing IS another.
- Personification: non-human things behave humanly.
- Always add the effect: suggests… making the reader feel…
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Simile compares with like or as; metaphor claims the thing IS the image.
- Personification gives objects human behaviour — rain that taps impatiently.
- Metaphors aren't literal: 'a zoo' means chaos, not animals.
- Full marks = device + what it suggests + how the reader feels.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile announces its comparison with like or as ('brave as a lion'); a metaphor states it directly ('the classroom was a zoo').
What is personification?
Giving human behaviour or feelings to non-human things — wind that howls, shadows that creep, a house that watches.
How are these tested in exams?
Two ways: identifying the device, and explaining its effect. The second carries more marks and uses the suggests-feels formula.
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