Jun 13, 2010

Shall We Dance? & Save the Last Dance: Similes x Metaphors

Both movies are great. Shall We Dance? has Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez at their best and Save the Last Dance is absolutely amazing, with great songs. Both talk about kinds of music and these scenes are perfect to contrast similes and metaphors, about which many people, even teachers, have doubts.























A. Remember the difference between SIMILES and METAPHORS:


A simile - or to be like something - is to retain a difference which means one can never fully substitute for the other. On the other hand, a metaphor actually is a substitution - it is an equation in principle. Typically, if it needs further explanation, it's probably a simile; if it makes instant sense, it's most likely a metaphor. The simile is always poetic, while the metaphor always has the ring of truth. They are similar, but different in essence.




Simile - Basic Rule: If it uses the words "is like" or "is as", it is usually a simile; if it uses the word "is", without "as" or "like", it is usually a metaphor .

B. Before watching the first movie segment from the movie "Shall We Dance?", try matching the first part of the sentence with the simile or metaphor in the second column.

1. The rumba

2. The rumba

3. You have to hold her

4. Let her go

5. Put her back

6. Then finish

( ) like the skin of her thigh is your reason for living.


( ) like she's ruined your life.


( ) is the dance of love.


( ) like your heart's being ripped from your chest.


( ) is a vertical expression of a horizontal wish.


( ) like you're going to have your way with her, right there on the dance floor.
C. Now watch the segment and check your answers. Identify which items are similes and metaphors.





Answer key: 3, 6, 1 (or 2), 4, 2 (or 1), 5
Metaphors are: 1 and 2

D. Now repeat the process with the next segment from the movie Save the Last Dance. Make a guess matching the first part of the sentence with the simile or metaphor.

1. Hip Hop is


2. Be strong


3. Sit


4. Slouch a little bit

( ) like you're chilling


( ) like you're a nasty bitch


( ) like an attitude


( ) like a tree

E. Now watch the movie segment and check your answers. Identify which items are similes or metaphors




Answer Key: 3, 4, 1, 2 - All are similes.

F. Think about the most popular dance or music in your country and write 2 similes and 2 metaphors describing it.
Ex: SAMBA.
Samba is like a volcano in the heart. (Simile)

Samba is a ferocious animal in the shape of dance. (Metaphor)

1 comment:

Eldora said...

Its a very good drama as well as its romantic movie. I like this movie very much and i had seen this many times and i had already watch the second part also. Second part is also a very nice movie. Thanking you sir/madam to share information on this movie.