Poetry: Similes & Metaphors

There is a lot of figurative language used in poetry, but I'm just going to focus on similes and metaphors. Before we get into anything, here are some definitions, taken from the wisest bot of them all, Google, here's what he had to say.




Simile | noun
v A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, (e.g., as brave as a lion).

v The use of such a method of comparison.




Metaphor | noun
v A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

v A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, esp. something abstract.





Similes and metaphors are what add depth to your writing, they're the techniques that show just how original you are. There are a lot of clichés, such as, tough as nails, eagle eyes, old as time, sweating bullets, etc. I think you get the drift, they're all unoriginal and have been used before.




It doesn't just apply to poetry, similes and metaphors are used in all kinds of writing, we even use them in speech when we might not be aware of it. ALTHOUGH you might be using them in your everyday speech, you can't just go ahead and use them in your writing (well, you could, but it wouldn't be good), the best kind of simile or metaphor is a unique one, one that gives detail about the character, or the setting... something that's personal to the character or you, as an author.




My examples:



His smile,

The shiver of

Hundreds of spiders

Crawling up my back,



I tried to make it poet-y but it can also be written in prose.




So through similes and metaphors in our writing we can evoke the readers senses, and the more unique the sense, the more it will live on within them.




Also, I wrote a post back in July... so that's about 9 months now, and in that post I addressed using similes and metaphors in creating characters. Here's the post: 
Three-Dimensions, Please.




Have you starting working on those unique comparisons?

Have I been helpful?



-Joseph





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