English Literature GCSE
Simile
What Simile means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for Eduqas, OCR.
Definitions of Simile
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things, using the words 'like' or 'as'. Example: "She walks in beauty, like the night."
A figure of speech that directly compares one thing to another using 'like' or 'as'. Duffy uses the simile "It will blind you with tears / like a lover."
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind.
Comparing two things using 'like' or 'as' to create a vivid image.
Comparing one thing to another using 'like' or 'as'.
Topics that use Simile
- Dulce et Decorum Est (Eduqas GCSE)
- Miracle on St David's Day (Eduqas GCSE)
- The Field-Mouse (Eduqas GCSE)
- She Walks in Beauty (OCR GCSE)
- Valentine (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
Using Simile in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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