Comparison poems are composed from extended similes and/or metaphors that represent the writer’s thoughts and feelings about a particular topic.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIMILES AND METAPHORS?
A simile is a comparison of two things using the words “like” or “as”. A metaphor is a comparison without using the words “like” or “as”. Therefore, they are very similar, but it is so important to be able to spot the difference!
The comparison can be between any two items, such as people or places. Another way to think about the difference is that while a simile makes a comparison, a metaphor is saying something is something else. This is done by erasing the words “like” and “as”.
Examples-
The below is an example of 'free verse' poetry'.
What Is Free Verse Poetry?
Free verse poetry is poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or musical form. While free verse poems are not devoid of structure, they allow enormous leeway for poets, particularly when compared to more metrically strict forms like blank verse.
What do you notice about this poem? What features has it used?
What can you notice about the layout of the poem?
What do you notice about this poem? What features has it used?
What can you notice about the layout of the poem?
What do you notice about this poem? What features has it used?
What can you notice about the layout of the poem?
Cast your minds back to the poem topic of 'BOOKS'.
Task:
To create your own brainstorm of 'idea seeds' to grow into descriptive language and poetry conventions for our class poem.
Using the brainstorm sheet, jot down as many 'seeds' that can grow into similes or metaphors. They can just be ideas that arent fully fledged 'trees' yet...Meaning...They dont have to have exact language conventions. Think of it like word or idea association with the theme of 'books'.
When I think of books I think of:
Losing myself in time.
Travelling to other destinations.
Falling in love/like with a character.
Being transported to another world/dimension.
Words that speak to my senses.
Your Turn!
From your simple ideas, you are to create a simile or metaphor from one of your ideas of the brainstorm about 'Books'!
Take a look at Miss Stanton's examples below. Can you tell which ones are similes and whoch are metaphors?
Extend yourself and write as many as you can in ten minutes!
Comparing Ideas-
The below examples help to compare two ideas with each other.
Hopefully, having two ideas allows you to create a simile or metaphor by using them both in your writing.
Student Examples
Miss Stanton's Example
Three topics to draw ideas from are as follows:
1. Food 2. Habitat 3. Description
The three topics Miss Stanton chose for comparison were:
1. Panda Vs Bamboo 2. Panda Vs Mountainous Ranges 3. Panda Vs Black and White
Read below to see the similes and metaphors used for Miss Stanton's Panda poem.