Comparison or simile: definition and examples

In order to make a message more understandable to the sender, the literature uses literary resources that facilitate this work. In this case, we are referring to the comparisonIn this case, it is used consciously by the person who writes a text and its objective is none other than to facilitate understanding or explain a specific idea. On the other hand we find the simile. Although it may seem the same, the truth is that there are differences between them. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to show you the comparison or simile: its definition and examples.

Index

1. What is comparison or simile: easy definition
2. Degrees of comparison
3. Examples of simile or comparison

When we refer to comparison or simile, we do so taking into account that it is a literary resource whereby the author of the text wants to make an expressed idea better explained or understood. That is, through a comparison, the author helps the reader understand what he is referring to with a specific idea.

In order to create a comparison, it is necessary that there is an element that is real and another imaginary put in relation through an adverb. In other words, the comparison will always establish a relationship between a real object or situation and another that is imaginary so that the receiver can understand what it is referring to.

The connecting link between the two parts of the comparison will always be an adverb. The existence of this will be the one that determines that it is a comparison. Some of these words are which, like... etc. This tells us what relationship exists between the real and the imaginary part of the comparison. Let's see therefore some example of comparison:

• Maria is What my mother.
• The books are What a treasure for her.
• I would like to be so high What Moon.

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Within the comparison or simile we can find different degrees. These will determine how is the relationship that exists between both parts of it, that is, the real and the imaginary. So we can distinguish:

• Equality: the two parts are equally important.
• Superiority: one of the two parts is more important.
• Inferiority: the comparison is made in the sense of inferiority.

Let's see some examples:

• You are heavier than a cow in arms. (Superiority)
• His skin is smooth like velvet. (Equality)
• You have fewer lights than a bicycle. (Inferiority)

Difference between comparison and metaphor

On the other hand, it is sometimes easy to confuse it with a metaphor, but we must bear in mind that there is no adverb that indicates this relationship between both parts of the comparison. For example, if we consider the previous sentence: Syour skin is as soft as velvet, we see that the real part it is his skin is soft and the part imaginary it is velvet, both are joined by the adverb What indicating a relationship.

In the case of metaphors this adverb disappears, remaining as follows: his skin is velvet. Let's look at other examples:

• His eyes are blue What the sea. (Comparison)
• His eyes are the sea. (Metaphor)
• The teeth in his mouth are white What pearls (Comparison)
• The pearls from his mouth. (Metaphor)

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We can find examples in colloquiale sentencesIt is as we have seen in the previous examples or in literature of all the centuries. The truth is that this type of resource has been widely used throughout history and is still being used today. Next we are going to show you some sentences in which you can easily identify a simile or comparison so that you can learn to distinguish it when it appears in a text:

• He is brave as a lion.
• Manolo lives like a king.
• Those phones were tough as steel.
• After recovering from the operation, Antonio is strong as a bull.
• His gaze is as pure as water.
• His eyes shone like two stars at dawn.
• Green eyes like basil.

Besides these prayers we can meet examples in literature or songs of all time, especially in poetry. Let's see some of them:

The first of them is found in this song by Vanesa Martín called Rip me off:

I closed my eyes and swallowed, / that man was leaving me/ like beer foam.

But we also find examples in Ovejuna Fountain from Lope de Vega:

Like the bird without warning like the fish, comes to give / to the claim or to the hook.

Or in this Rhyme by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer:

Murmur that in the soul / rises and grows /like a volcano that is deaf / announces that it is going to burn

We hope this lesson has helped you understand the comparison or simile, its definition, and its examples. If you want to continue learning more about different rhetorical figures and other peculiarities of Spanish language be sure to visit our sections where you can find more lessons like these that will help you in your studies.

If you want to read more articles similar to Comparison or simile: definition and examples, we recommend that you enter our category of Literary concepts.

Pérez, J. and Gardey, A. (2011). Definition of simile.