English Language Arts
Grade 4
15 min
Determine the meanings of similes and metaphors
Determine the meanings of similes and metaphors
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the terms 'simile' and 'metaphor'.
Identify a simile in a sentence by locating the words 'like' or 'as'.
Identify a metaphor in a sentence as a direct comparison.
Explain what two things are being compared in a given simile or metaphor.
Determine the meaning of a simile or metaphor using context clues.
Create their own simple similes and metaphors to describe objects or feelings.
Have you ever heard someone say, 'My brother is a pig'? 🐷 Do they mean he has a snout and a curly tail? Let's find out!
In this lesson, you will learn about two cool tools writers use called similes and metaphors. These tools make writing more colorful and fun by comparing things in surprising ways. Understanding the...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Figurative LanguageA way of using words to mean something different from their normal, everyday meaning. It's like a secret code that makes language more interesting.Saying 'It's raining cats and dogs' doesn't mean animals are falling from the sky. It's figurative language for 'It's raining very hard.'
SimileA type of figurative language that compares two different things using the special clue words 'like' or 'as'.Her smile was as bright as the sun.
MetaphorA type of figurative language that compares two different things by saying one thing *is* the other thing. It does NOT use 'like' or 'as'.The calm lake was a mirror.
Literal MeaningThe exact, dictionary definition of a word or ph...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Simile Signal Words
Similes use the words 'like' or 'as' to make a comparison.
When you see 'like' or 'as' comparing two different things, you've found a simile. This is the easiest way to spot one.
The Metaphor Direct Comparison
Metaphors say one thing IS (or was, are, were) another thing.
Metaphors don't use signal words. They make a strong, direct comparison. If you see a sentence that says 'A is B' but A can't literally be B, it's probably a metaphor.
The Shared Quality Question
To find the meaning, ask: 'What do these two things have in common?'
After you find the two things being compared, think about their qualities. The meaning of the simile or metaphor comes from the quality...
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Challenging
Read the metaphor: 'The old house was a skeleton against the winter sky.' Which of the following details would NOT support the meaning of this metaphor?
A.The house had broken windows and peeling paint.
B.Bare tree branches, like bones, surrounded the house.
C.The house had a warm, cozy fire burning in the fireplace.
D.The wind whistled through cracks in the walls.
Challenging
A student wrote, 'The rumor spread like wildfire.' If the student had written 'The rumor was a wildfire' instead, how would the meaning change?
A.The first is a simile, the second is a metaphor, but the basic meaning is the same.
B.The simile suggests the rumor spread quickly, but the metaphor suggests it was also destructive.
C.The simile is a weaker comparison than the metaphor.
D.The meaning would not change at all, only the grammar.
Challenging
Someone reads the sentence 'My brother is a pig at the dinner table' and thinks it means the brother is a farm animal. This is an example of which common pitfall?
A.Confusing similes and metaphors
B.Focusing on the wrong quality
C.Taking it literally
D.Just saying 'it's a comparison'
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