Use of Comparison: Simile and Metaphor – JSS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note (Third Term)

A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as”, while a metaphor says one thing is another without using them.

• Simile: “She is as brave as a lion.”
• Metaphor: “Time is money.”
• Quick check: look for “like” or “as” to tell them apart.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define simile and metaphor.
2. Identify similes and metaphors in sentences.
3. Explain the difference between simile and metaphor.
4. Create their own similes and metaphors.
5. Use comparisons to make their writing more interesting.

Lesson details

What should students already know?

• Figures of speech: students know what they are.
• Figurative language: it does not mean exactly what it says.
• Everyday comparisons: students can recognise basic ones in speech.

What teaching aids are needed?

• Board: whiteboard and markers.
• Chart: examples of similes and metaphors.
• Pictures: for comparison activities.
• Flashcards: sample sentences.
• Objects: for demonstration (optional).

How do we introduce the lesson? (4 minutes)

1. Show two pictures: a lion and a brave soldier.
2. Ask: “What do these two things have in common?”
3. Ask: “If I say ‘The soldier is as brave as a lion’, what do I mean?”
4. Ask: “Is the soldier actually a lion?” The answer is no, but we compare them.
5. Write two sentences on the board: “He is as strong as an ox.” and “He is an ox.”
6. Ask students for the difference. Both compare a person to an ox, but they say it differently.
7. State the aim: today we learn two special kinds of comparison, simile and metaphor.

What is a simile? (12 minutes)

A simile is a comparison between two different things using the words “like” or “as”.

What is the formula for a simile?

• Pattern A: something + is like + something else.
• Pattern B: something + is as + adjective + as + something else.
• Key words: LIKE or AS. If they make a comparison, you have found a simile.

How does a simile work?

A simile compares two different things that share one quality.

• The person is not a lion, but both are brave.
• The simile shows HOW brave she is.

What are the parts of a simile?

Every simile has three parts.

1. The thing being described: also called the tenor.
2. The comparison word: like or as.
3. The thing it is compared to: also called the vehicle.

Example: “Her smile was like sunshine.”

• Her smile: the thing being described.
• was like: the comparison word.
• sunshine: the thing compared to.

What are the common simile patterns?

What are some everyday similes?

• About people: as pretty as a picture, as strong as an ox, as busy as bees, as gentle as a lamb, as stubborn as a mule.
• About things: as easy as ABC, as quick as lightning, as slow as a snail, as smooth as butter, as sweet as honey.
• About situations: sleeping like a log, fighting like cats and dogs, watching like a hawk, spreading like wildfire.

What are some Nigerian similes?

• As hot as the harmattan sun
• As sweet as agbalumo
• As busy as Oshodi market
• As loud as Lagos traffic

Why do we use similes?

• To create clear pictures: “The water was very clear” becomes “The water was as clear as crystal.”
• To make descriptions stronger: “She was very happy” becomes “She was as happy as a child on Christmas morning.”
• To help people understand: we compare something new to something familiar, as in “This app is as easy as riding a bicycle.”
• To make writing interesting: “The night was dark” becomes “The night was as dark as coal.”

How do we create our own simile?

1. Think of what you want to describe.
2. Ask what quality it has (fast, slow, bright, dark, loud, quiet).
3. Ask what else has that same quality.
4. Join them with “like” or “as”.

• Describing: a fast car.
• Quality: speed.
• Other fast things: lightning, wind, cheetah.
• Simile: “The car is as fast as lightning.”

Class activity 1: complete the similes

1. As red as _____ (blood, tomato, pepper)
2. As cold as _____ (ice, snow)
3. Runs like _____ (wind, cheetah, athlete)
4. As tall as _____ (tree, giraffe, building)
5. Shines like _____ (star, diamond, sun)

What is a metaphor? (12 minutes)

A metaphor is a comparison that says one thing IS another thing, without using “like” or “as”.

• Formula: something + is/are/was/were + something else.
• Simile: “He is LIKE a lion.”
• Metaphor: “He IS a lion.”

How does a metaphor work?

A metaphor calls one thing by the name of another to make a direct comparison.

Example: “Time is money.” Time is not literally money, but the metaphor tells us:

• Time is valuable: as money is.
• Do not waste it: as we should not waste money.
• Use it wisely: as we spend money carefully.

What are some common metaphors?

What are some Nigerian metaphors?

• Lagos is the heartbeat of Nigeria.
• The harmattan is a blanket covering the land.
• Our elders are libraries of wisdom.
• Unity is our strength.

Why do we use metaphors?

• They are direct: “Her voice is music” is shorter and more forceful than “Her voice is like music.”
• They create strong images: “The moon is a silver coin in the sky” lets us see a round, shiny moon.
• They express big ideas simply: “Education is the key to success” says education opens doors to achievement.
• They make abstract things concrete: “Life’s mountains to climb” lets us picture life’s difficulties as real mountains.

Class activity 2: complete the metaphors

1. My father is _____ (a rock, a superhero, my hero)
2. That boy is _____ (a troublemaker, lightning, thunder)
3. Exams are _____ (mountains to climb, tests of strength)
4. Books are _____ (windows to the world, treasures, friends)

What is the difference between simile and metaphor? (8 minutes)

• Simile: a comparison that uses “like” or “as”, for example “He runs like the wind”.
• Metaphor: a comparison that says one thing is another, for example “He is the wind”.

How do they compare?

How can one idea be written both ways?

How do we tell them apart?

1. Look for “like” or “as” making a comparison. If you find them, it is a simile.
2. If there is no “like” or “as”, check whether it says one thing “is” or “are” another. If so, it is a metaphor.

• “Her eyes sparkled like diamonds.” has “like”, so it is a simile.
• “Her eyes are diamonds.” has no “like” or “as”, so it is a metaphor.

When should we use each one?

• Use a simile: for a gentler comparison, a careful explanation or a very clear comparison.
• Use a metaphor: for a powerful, direct statement, in poetry, or for shorter, punchier language.
• Both are correct: choose the one that gives the effect you want.

How do we change one into the other?

• Simile to metaphor: “My grandmother is as wise as an owl” becomes “My grandmother is an owl”. This sounds strange, so not every change works well.
• Better metaphor: “My grandmother is a fountain of wisdom.”
• Metaphor to simile: “Life is a rollercoaster” becomes “Life is like a rollercoaster.”

What mistakes should we avoid?

Mixed metaphors

• Rule: do not mix two different images in one sentence.
• Wrong: “She is a shining star who will fly high.” (Stars do not fly.)
• Right: “She is a shining star who will shine brightly.”

Unclear comparisons

• Rule: make sure the comparison makes sense.
• Unclear: “He is as happy as a tree.” (Trees do not show happiness.)
• Clear: “He is as happy as a child with a new toy.”

Overused comparisons (clichés)

• Rule: try to be original and avoid comparisons everyone uses.
• Overused: as old as the hills, as strong as an ox, as pretty as a picture.
• More original: as old as ancient baobab trees, as strong as the Lagos hustle, as pretty as sunrise over the Niger.

Class activity 3: work in pairs

1. Each pair takes one topic: a hot day, a fast runner, a difficult problem, a happy moment or a scary situation.
2. Write one simile about the topic.
3. Write one metaphor about the topic.
4. Share both with the class.

Where can we use similes and metaphors?

• In essays: to make descriptions vivid.
• In stories: to create interesting characters and settings.
• In poetry: to express emotions beautifully.
• In speeches: to make points memorable.
• In everyday talk: to express yourself creatively.
• When reading or listening: to notice comparisons in stories, poems and songs.

Evaluation (2 minutes)

1. Define simile and metaphor, and name the two words a simile uses.
2. Say whether each is a simile or a metaphor: “She is like a flower”, “Time is money”, “His words cut like a knife”.
3. Write one simile about a teacher and one metaphor about school.
4. Change this simile to a metaphor: “He is as busy as a bee.”
5. Give two differences between a simile and a metaphor.

Assignment

Write a short paragraph of 7 to 10 sentences describing your favourite place.

1. Use at least two similes and two metaphors.
2. Underline the similes.
3. Circle the metaphors.