Simile and Metaphor Lesson 3 Mind Mind in

Simile and Metaphor Lesson 3

“Mind” Mind in its purest play is like some bat That beats about in caverns all alone, Contriving by a kind of senseless wit Not to conclude against a wall of stone. It has no need to falter or explore; Darkly it knows what obstacles are there, And so may weave and flitter, dip and soar In perfect courses through the blackest air. And has this simile a like perfection? The mind is like a bat. Precisely. Save That in the very happiest intellection A graceful error may correct the cave. -by Richard Wilbur

Simile • A comparison between two things that initially seem quite different, but are shown to have a significant resemblance • Employs connective words, including like, than, as, similar to, resembles or seems • Example: Her eyes shone like the sun.

Metaphor • Also compares two seemingly different things. But in metaphor, the comparison is not expressed but is created when a figurative term is substituted for or identified with the literal term • Employs words such as is and are. • Example: Talent is a cistern; genius is a fountain.

Four Metaphor Forms • 1 st Form: Like simile, both the literal and figurative terms are named. • Example: Life the hound Equivocal Comes at a bound Either to rend me Or to befriend me.

Four Metaphor Forms • 2 nd Form: The literal term is named and the figurative term is implied. • Example: Where had I heard this wind before Change like this to a deeper roar? What would it take my standing there for, Holding open a restive door, Looking down hill to a frothy shore? Summer was past and the day was past. Somber clouds in the west were massed. Out in the porch’s sagging floor, Leaves got up in a coil and hissed Blinding struck at my knee and missed…

Four Metaphor Forms • 3 rd Form: The literal term is implied and the figurative term is named. • 4 th Form: Both the literal and the figurative terms are implied.

Example of 3 rd and 4 th Forms It sifts from Leaden Sieves— It powders all the Wood. It fills with Alabaster Wool The Wrinkles of the Road— It deals Celestial Veil To Stump, and Stack—and Stem– A Summer’s empty Room— Acres of Joints, where Harvests were, Recordless, but for them— It makes an Even Face Of Mountain, and of Plain— Unbroken Forehead from the East It Ruffles Wrists of Posts Unto the East again— As Ankles of a Queen— Then stills its Artisans—like Ghosts It reaches to the Fence— — It wraps it Rail by Rail Denying they have been-Till it is lost in Fleeces—

Now you try… • Identify opening comparison in – “Hope’ is the thing with feathers—” – “There is no Frigate like a book” • What similarities exists between hope and something with feathers in the first poem, and between a ship and a book in the second? • What other metaphors can you find?

Before you try…Definitions to know • Gale, n. A very strong wind • Abash, v. Cause to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, ashamed • Frigate, n. A warship with a mixed armament, generally lighter than a destroyer • Courser, n. A swift horse • Traverse, n. A route or path to cross over • Frugal, adj. Economical; thrifty

“There is no Frigate like a book” There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away, Nor any coursers like a page Of prancing poetry. This traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of toll; How frugal is the chariot That bears a human soul! By Emily Dickinson

“Hope’ is the thing with feathers” Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune--without the words, And never stops at all, And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me. - #254 By Emily Dickinson

Discuss In the following poem, Hughes uses five strong similes in this short poem. What are they? Do they seem positive or negative to you? How do you think Hughes felt about having his dream deferred?

“Harlem” What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? By Langston Hughes

WRITING EXERCISE!

Activity 1: The following is a list of clichés. Try rewriting each overused phrase, making it into an original simile: As hungry as a horse; Bright like the sun; As fast as lightning; As slow as a turtle; Dark like night; Quiet as a mouse; Red as a rose; and White as snow.

Activity 2: Taking turns, pick an emotion and an object provided by the teacher and make an unexpected metaphor. For example, if you pick “happiness” and “car, ” your poem would start “Happiness is a car…” To continue thought, use description and imagery to create an eightline poem. Type this up and bring to class next period.

Homework • Circle all instances of simile and underline all instances of metaphor in your poem. • You are now ready to discuss how the author’s use of poetic techniques, like simile, metaphor, and personification, make the poem stronger. What other poetic techniques does the poet use (read the sheet in your handout)? To turn in: • Your marked up poem highlighting simile and metaphor • Turn in a screen shot of your “Poetic Techniques” section of your Prezi • Emotion/Object Metaphor poem