Definition of Simile
Simile is one of figures of speech that directly compares two different things with the words "like" or "as", showing the similarities between them.
Characteristics of Simile
Creation of Images in Mind
When a writer compares two different things using simile, an image or sketch of the things appears in our mind and we feel easy to comprehend or understand that thing. For example, if we use the word "Ali is a brave boy." for anyone. Reader might not be understanding it's meaning. Suppose if someone uses simile and make a sentence "Ali is a brave as a soldier." we immediately creates an image of a soldier in our mind and recalls his bravery in our mind. Now consider an other example, "Ayesha is beautiful like a butterfly."
Builds Connection
Similes build a close connection between two different things. For example, "Momina is as beautiful as a rose. There have been established a connection between Momina and the rose due to their same quality i.e. their beauty.
Expresses Emotions
Similes have a great power to express emotions. For instance, " Her smile is as bright as the sun." Here it really helps us understand that how cheerful and beautiful her smile. We love her smile due to which we praise it, and love is what? An emotion.
Examples of Similes in Literature
"The night was as black as coal, and the silence hung in the air like a heavy curtain."Edgar Allan Poe, "The Fall of the House of Usher"
"The child's eyes were as wide as saucers, filled with wonder and innocence."
J.K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
"His voice, low and gravelly, resonated through the room like distant thunder announcing an impending storm."
Agatha Christie, "Murder on the Orient Express"
"Her smile was as bright as a beacon in the darkness, illuminating the entire room."
F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Great Gatsby"
"Time moved slowly, like a lazy river winding its way through the endless expanse of eternity."
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "One Hundred Years of Solitude"
"The pain in his heart was like a relentless drumbeat, echoing the rhythm of his sorrow."
Khalid Hussain, "A Thousand Splendid Suns"
"The tension in the room was thick, hanging over us like a dense fog refusing to lift."
George Orwell, "1984"
"Her laughter bubbled up, light and airy, like champagne effervescing in a crystal flute."
Jane Austen, "Pride and Prejudice"
These examples demonstrate the flexibility of similes in literature by showing how they can arouse readers' emotions, draw out vivid images, and improve their whole sensory experience.