Into the Woods: Similes

Similes: a comparison between two dissimilar things using like or as.

A simile is a direct comparison of two things. Similes are a easy to understand. The uses of similes can be confusing to people who are not fluent in a given language, because they will interpret the words literally. Also, similes  can change from region to region, and even among groups of people, like musicians or teenagers.

Come up with the most logical similes. Match the adjectives and the nouns . Then watch the segment and check your answers.


CAPE                    RED           BLOOD

COW                     WHITE       MILK

SLIPPERS             PURE          GOLD

HAIR                   YELLOW    CORN

  

Work in small groups, Come up with similes about the pictures*. Use your imagination!

* YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURES ONLY IN THE WORKSHEET.

Key:

A COW  AS WHITE AS MILK
THE CAPE AS RED AS BLOOD
THE HAIR THAT IS YELLOW AS CORN
SLIPPERS PURE AS GOLD

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - INTO THE WOODS

Ivan the Incredible: Similes, Figures of Speech

This movie is great. It is wonderful to see the story of an ordinary boy who can be the best at everything for just one day. You can't miss it.

http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/figures-simile.htm


A simile is a figure of speech that says that one thing is like another different thing. We can use similes to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.
We often use the words as...as and like with similes.
Common patterns for similes, with example sentences, are:

• something [is*] AS adjective AS something 
• His skin was as cold as ice.
  It felt as hard as rock.
  She looked as gentle as a lamb.
• something [is*] LIKE something
  My love is like a red, red rose.
  These cookies taste like garbage.
  He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.
• something [does**] LIKE something
  He eats like a pig.
  He smokes like a chimney.
  They fought like cats and dogs.

* stative verb: be, feel, smell, taste etc
** action verb

A simile is a direct comparison of two things. Similes are a easy to understand. The uses of similes can be confusing to people who are not fluent in a given language, because they will interpret the words literally. Also, similes  can change from region to region, and even among groups of people, like musicians or teenagers.

I. Match the adjectives and nouns and make similes connecting them. You may repeat the adjectives. What does the witch say to Ivan, using similes?


1. Strong
2. Calm
3. Happy


( ) Cow
( ) Steer
( ) Tarzan
( ) Hog

1. _______________________________________
2. _______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
4. _______________________________________


II.  Watch the segment and check your guesses.

III. Work in groups. Mention five things that you would like to do or be, using similes.

Ex: I'd like to be as fast as Superman.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - IVAN THE INCREDIBLE

Answer key:

He is as strong as a steer

He's as calm as a cow.

He's as happy as a hog. 

He's just as strong as Tarzan.

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)

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SHALL WE DANCE

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SAVE THE LAST DANCE