Imagery: Creating Metaphors and Similes

1. Imagery: Creating Metaphors and Similes Making your writing come alive with vivid mental pictures The construction workers moved at a frantic pace, worker ants on a mission to create. The kid was a kangaroo, leaping above all his opponents.

2. The crowded Roman streets A zoo of wild animals What I want to describe What this thing is like: The crowded Roman street is like a zoo of wild animals, with no regard for what is destroyed. ? What I want to describe What this thing is like: Mount Vesuvius angry person finally losing his temper Mount Vesuvius is like an angry man finally losing his temper , spewing pain everywhere.

3. rapid river wild horse race What I want to describe What this thing is like: The rapid river is a wild horse in a race, rushing past the finish line and calming down at the end, ? What I want to describe What this thing is like: Marching of the Spartan army rhythm of drums The Spartan army marched through the streets, their feet the rhythmic pounding of drums in synchronized harmony.

4. busy marketplace bee hive What I want to describe What this thing is like: The busy marketplace was a bee hive, with people constantly buzzing around and shoppers moving in and out of the booths. What I want to describe What this thing is like: large black dog loud thunderstorm The large black dog barked angrily, resounding like a loud thunderstorm.

5. stream shadow refuge/ hiding place dress / robe What I want to describe What this thing is like: Her dress is a blue stream flowing against her legs. The robe is a swift shadow, swishing in the night air. The delicate, silken robe is a refuge against the world, hiding her darkest secrets from the watchful eyes of judging strangers.

6. Creative, vivid metaphor examples- Her necklace tinkled like a delicate bell ringing against the sides of its frame. The master’s home was a treasure chest full of expensive and exotic prizes from around the world. The Viking ship was like a serpent moving silently through the deep waters, stalking its prey. The pain of the whip slashing across his back was like the attack of thousands of wasps, stinging again and again into his flesh.

7. Watch out for… • Illogical or “out-of-sync” comparisons- > “a crowded mall” > “a fun house at an amusement park” • Simple descriptions rather than comparisons • to something else- • > “she is a fragile dancer” rather than • “ she floated gracefully on the stage like • a fragile butterfly in a gentle breeze”