Students correct three simile-metaphor misidentifications — a simile called a metaphor, a metaphor called a simile, and the definition reversed. Part B has four fill-in-the-blank questions about simile and metaphor examples and the comparison words used. Part C has two short-answer questions identifying a simile from a passage and explaining what a metaphor compares.
Simile-metaphor confusion is the single most common literary device error at Grade 5, and direct correction of misidentified examples is the most efficient fix.
Style:
Literary Devices
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
"The lake was like a mirror" is a metaphor.
Rewrite: "The lake was like a mirror" is a simile.
2. Fix the sentence:
"Her voice is music to my ears" uses the word like, so it is a simile.
Rewrite: "Her voice is music to my ears" does not use like or as, so it is a metaphor.
3. Fix the sentence:
A metaphor compares two things using the words like or as.
Rewrite: A simile compares two things using the words like or as.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. "The stars were like diamonds in the sky" is an example of a simile.
2. "Time is money" is an example of a metaphor.
3. A simile uses the words like or as to compare two things.
4. A metaphor makes a direct comparison without using like or as.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Read: "The classroom was as quiet as a graveyard." Is this a simile or a metaphor? Explain how you know.
This is a simile because it uses the word "as" to compare the classroom to a graveyard. Both share the quality of being very quiet.
2. Read: "Her laughter is a bubbling brook." Explain what two things are being compared and what the metaphor means.
The metaphor compares her laughter to a bubbling brook. It means her laughter sounds light, happy, and flowing, like water moving over rocks in a stream.
Literary Devices
★ Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1) Fix the sentence:
"The lake was like a mirror" is a metaphor.
Rewrite: "The lake was like a mirror" is a simile.
2) Fix the sentence:
"Her voice is music to my ears" uses the word like, so it is a simile.
Rewrite: "Her voice is music to my ears" does not use like or as, so it is a metaphor.
3) Fix the sentence:
A metaphor compares two things using the words like or as.
Rewrite: A simile compares two things using the words like or as.
★ Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1) "The stars were like diamonds in the sky" is an example of a simile.
2) "Time is money" is an example of a metaphor.
3) A simile uses the words like or as to compare two things.
4) A metaphor makes a direct comparison without using like or as.
★ Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1) Read: "The classroom was as quiet as a graveyard." Is this a simile or a metaphor? Explain how you know.
This is a simile because it uses the word "as" to compare the classroom to a graveyard. Both share the quality of being very quiet.
2) Read: "Her laughter is a bubbling brook." Explain what two things are being compared and what the metaphor means.
The metaphor compares her laughter to a bubbling brook. It means her laughter sounds light, happy, and flowing, like water moving over rocks in a stream.
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9 Questions
15-20 minutes
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