Booklet One – Bringing Language to Life – Similes, Metaphors and Personification

Before you begin:
– Work through this booklet at your own pace without rushing.
– Read each box carefully before you try the activities.
– Look back at the examples if you get stuck.
– Write in full sentences whenever you can.

★ Why do writers use these techniques?

Writers do not just want to tell you things. They want you to see, hear and feel them. Language techniques are tools that help a writer paint a picture in your mind and make their writing more powerful.

Look at the difference:

Plain sentence	With a technique
The man was angry.	The man was a volcano about to erupt.
The sea was rough.	The waves clawed at the shore like angry hands.

In this booklet, you will learn three of the most common techniques. By the end, you should be able to spot them, use them and (most importantly) explain why a writer chose them.

1 Similes

What is a simile? A simile compares one thing to another using the words “like” or “as”. Think of it this way: a simile says one thing is LIKE another thing.

Examples

He was as brave as a lion.
Her smile was like sunshine.
The room was as cold as ice.
The car shot off like a rocket.

Top tip: If you can see the word “like” or “as” making a comparison, it is probably a simile.

Activity 1.1 – Spot the simile

Underline or circle the simile in each sentence below.

The baby’s skin was as soft as silk.
My brother eats like a horse.
The old house stood at the end of the lane.
The snow was as white as a fresh sheet of paper.
She ran like the wind to catch the bus.

One of these sentences does NOT contain a simile. Which one? Write the number here: ______

Activity 1.2 – Finish the simile

Complete each sentence with your own idea. Be creative! There are no wrong answers.

1. The dog was as fast as ________________________________________________

2. My bedroom was as messy as __________________________________________

3. The thunder sounded like ______________________________________________

4. Her eyes sparkled like _________________________________________________

Activity 1.3 – Why did the writer use it?

This is the most important skill. It is not enough to spot a technique. In your GCSE, you must always explain the EFFECT (what it makes the reader think or feel and why).

Example
Simile: “The soldier was as still as a statue.” Effect: This makes the reader picture the soldier standing completely frozen, not moving a muscle. It suggests he is disciplined, controlled and perhaps tense, as if he is waiting for something to happen.

Your turn! Read each simile and explain what picture it creates and how it makes the reader feel.

a) “The waiting room was as quiet as a graveyard.”

What does it make you picture? And how does it make you feel?

____________________________________________________________________

b) “He attacked his dinner like a starving wolf.”

What does it make you picture? And how does it make you feel?

____________________________________________________________________

★ Challenge: Write your OWN simile to describe a busy school corridor. Then, explain its effect in one sentence. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 Metaphors

What is a metaphor? A metaphor compares two things by saying one thing IS another. It does not use “like” or “as”. The first thing is not really the other. The writer is making a comparison to create a strong image.

Simile vs Metaphor – spot the difference

Simile (uses like/as)	Metaphor (says it IS)
The classroom is like a zoo.	The classroom is a zoo.
His words were like daggers.	His words were daggers.

More examples of metaphors

The world is a stage.
Time is a thief.
My memory is a little foggy today.
The city was a jungle of noise and lights.

Activity 2.1 – Simile or metaphor?

Read each sentence. Tick the correct box.

Sentence	Simile	Metaphor
The stars were diamonds in the sky.
He was as quiet as a mouse.
Her temper is a firework waiting to go off.
The lake was like a mirror.
Life is a rollercoaster.

Activity 2.2 – Turn it into a metaphor

Below are similes. Rewrite each one as a metaphor by removing “like” or “as” and saying the thing IS the other thing.

Example: Simile – “The snow was like a blanket.” Metaphor – “The snow was a blanket over the fields.”

1. Simile: The moon was like a silver coin.

Metaphor: _____________________________________________________________

2. Simile: His hands were as cold as ice.

Metaphor: _____________________________________________________________

3. Simile: The crowd was like a roaring sea.

Metaphor: _____________________________________________________________

Activity 2.3 – Why did the writer use it?

Example Metaphor: “The exam hall was a prison.” Effect: By calling the hall a prison, the writer suggests the students feel trapped, tense and unable to escape. It makes the reader imagine a cold, silent place where the students are under pressure.

Now explain the effect of these metaphors.

a) “My little sister is a monster in the mornings.”

What does it suggest about the sister? Why is it better than just saying she is grumpy?

____________________________________________________________________

b) “The news was a heavy stone in his stomach.”

What feeling does this create? Explain your answer.

____________________________________________________________________

★ Challenge: Write a metaphor to describe how you feel on a Monday morning. Then explain why you chose it. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Personification

What is personification? Personification is when a writer gives human qualities, feelings or actions to something that is not human. This could be an object, an animal or the weather. The clue is in the word: PERSON. The writer makes a non-human thing behave like a person.

Examples

The wind whispered through the trees. (Wind cannot really whisper – only people can.)
The sun smiled down on us. (The sun cannot smile.)
The old floorboards groaned under our feet.
The angry sea swallowed the little boat.

Top tip: Look for a verb (a doing word) that only a human could really do given to a non-human thing. Examples could be whisper, smile, dance, cry or reach.

Activity 3.1 – Find the human action

In each sentence, underline the word that gives a human quality to a non-human thing.

The flames danced in the fireplace.
The car coughed and spluttered before it died.
The leaves chased each other down the street.
The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up.
The fog crept slowly across the city.

Activity 3.2 – Bring it to life

Add a human action to each non-human thing to make a sentence using personification.

Example: The thunder ________ . The thunder grumbled angrily across the sky.

1. The rain ________________________________________

2. The trees ________________________________________

3. My phone ________________________________________

4. The wind ________________________________________

Activity 3.3 – Why did the writer use it?

Example Personification: “The storm raged all night, hammering on the windows.” Effect: Words like “raged” and “hammering” make the storm seem angry and violent, almost like an attacker. This makes the reader feel that the people inside are in danger and helpless against nature.

Now explain the effect of these examples.

a) “The empty house watched them with dark, hollow windows.”

How does giving the house a human action (watching) make the reader feel?

____________________________________________________________________

b) “The daffodils nodded their golden heads in the breeze.”

What mood or feeling does this create? Is it calm or scary? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________

★ Challenge: Describe a city at night using personification. Make the buildings, lights or streets do something human. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

★ Putting it all together

Now you have learned all three techniques, let’s check if you can identify and use them.

Final check – Name that technique

Write S (simile), M (metaphor) or P (personification) next to each sentence.

Sentence	S / M / P
The waves were galloping horses charging at the beach.
The kettle was as loud as a screaming child.
The candle flame flickered and then went to sleep.
Her hair was a curtain of gold.
The old door moaned as it slowly opened.
The exam was like a marathon.

Big finish – Your own descriptive paragraph

Write a short paragraph (4–6 sentences) describing a stormy day at the seaside. You MUST include:

at least one simile
at least one metaphor
at least one example of personification

When you finish, underline each technique and label it S, M or P.

____________________________________________________________________

✓ How did I do?

Tick the box that is true for you now. Be honest as it helps you know what to revise.

I can…	Not yet	Getting there	Confident
…explain what a simile is and spot one.
…explain what a metaphor is and spot one.
…explain what personification is and spot one.
…write my own examples of all three.
…explain the EFFECT of a technique on the reader.

Well done for completing this booklet! Spotting techniques is good, but explaining WHY a writer used them is what will get you the top marks at GCSE.

Booklet One – Bringing Language to Life – Similes, Metaphors and Personification

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