Page 99 - Grammar Glow - 8

18 18 Figures of Speech

We use impressive words or phrases in our speech/writing to impress the listener or reader. These
phrases or words are called figures of speech. Some of them are given below.

Simile

In a Simile a comparison is made between two objects of different kinds which have however at
least one point in common.

Points to Remember:
• Simile is based on comparison.

• In a simile, we compare things of different kinds.

• These different things have one common point.
Study the following sentences carefully.

A ship sails on the sea.

A camel runs in a desert.
Both are different but they have one common feature.

One can use a simile to describe this common feature as given below.

1. A camel is like a ship of the desert.
2. He behaves like a silly mouse.

Metaphor
A Metaphor does not describe a thing to be like another thing. But it describes a thing to be the
other.

Maharana Pratap was a lion in the battle.

So we can use a metaphor to describe the common feature of a Maharana Pratap and a lion. To
know the difference between a simile and a metaphor, Observe the given examples carefully.

Simile Metaphor

1. Kapil Dev was like a hurricane during Kapil Dev was the hurricane during cricket
cricket period. period.

2. Kalidas was like Shakespeare. Kalidas was the Shakespeare.

9797