Figurative Language: Similes & Metaphors

Metaphor /ˈmet.ə.fɔːr/ = an
expression, often found in
Simile /ˈsɪm.ə.li/ = an
literature, that describes a
expression comparing one
person or object by referring
thing with another, always
to something that is
including the words "as" or
considered to have similar
"like".
characteristics to that person
or object.

Part 1: Reading: can you find one example of a simile and one example of a metaphor in the lyrics
to the song Wildfire by Seafret?

Wildfire by Seafret

You think you know all about it, then it seems you are wrong
She hit it out of the park before it had even begun
I needed sunshine in the darkness burning out
Well now I know that I'm the fuel and she's the spark

We are bound to each other's hearts About Wildfire:

Caught, torn and pulled apart
This love is like wildfire “Wildfire”, the last promotional single of
And to my word now I'll be true Seafret’s debut album, talks about loving
I can't stop this breaking loose someone hard, even though you don’t fully
This love is like wildfire know them.
Like wildfire
The following month of its release, a music
As feelings arrange deep down inside video was dropped where single strangers from
Try describing a love you can't design
London were reunited to recreate psychologist
More and more, every inch of me is holding on
Arthur Aron’s experiment, to see if strangers
This is it, all the flames are burning strong
could fall in love by answering 36 questions and
We are bound to each other's hearts looking at each other’s eyes for four minutes.
Caught, torn and pulled apart
This love is like wildfire
And to my word now I'll be true
I can't stop this breaking loose
This love, is like wildfire
Like wildfire x2

You think you know all about it, then it seems you are wrong
She hit it out of the park before it had even begun
Oh

We are bound to each other's hearts

Caught, torn and pulled apart
This love, is like wildfire
And to my word now I'll be true
I can't stop this breaking loose
This love, is like wildfire
Like wildfire x3

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Part 2:

Reading: Work in groups of four. Read through the questions to the original questionnaire by
psychologist Arthur Aron, who conducted an experiment to see if it was possible for strangers to
fall in love simply by answering 36 questions while in each other’s presence.

Use your dictionary to match the words in italics to their respective definitions. Remember to
record any other new vocabulary in the back of your notebooks. For example: guest (n) /ɡest/: a
person you have invited to a social occasion, such as a party or a meal.

Adapted from: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/style/36-questions-that-lead-to-love.html

Set I

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

4. What be a “perfect” day for you?

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for
the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Set II

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what
would you want to know?

14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

17. What is your most treasured memory?

18. What is your most terrible memory?

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19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way
you are now living? Why?

20. What does friendship mean to you?

21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total
of five items.

23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other
people’s?

24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

Set III

25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling ... “

26. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... “

27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be
important for him or her to know.

28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you
might not say to someone you’ve just met.

29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would
you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets,
you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also,
ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have
chosen.

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 DICTIONARY WORK

guest (n.)
1. a. of great value or importance
famous (adj.)
2. b. share an intimate connection with
rehearse (n.) something that is successful, or that is achieved after a lot of work
3. c.
or effort
retain (v.) an opinion that someone offers you about what you should do or
4. d.
how you should act in a particular situation
hunch (n.) a person you have invited to a social occasion, such as a party or a
5. e.
meal
grateful (adj.)
6. f. known and recognized by many people
quality (n.) an occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that
7. g.
you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something
crystal ball (n.)
8. h. the time when someone is a child
accomplishment (n.)
9. i. very unpleasant or serious or of low quality
treasured (adj.)
10. j. showing or expressing thanks, especially to another person
terrible (adj.)
11. k. making you feel embarrassed
affection (n.)
12. l. making you feel worried or upset
childhood (n.) a transparent glass ball used by someone who says they can
13. m.
discover what will happen to you in the future by looking into it
close (adj.)
14. n. an idea that is based on feeling and for which there is no proof
embarrassing (adj.)
15. o. a feeling of liking for a person or place
joked (v.)
16. p. to keep or continue to have something
opportunity (n.)
17. q. a characteristic or feature of someone or something
a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a
regret (n.)
18. r. mistake that you have made, and a wish that it could have been
different and better
disturbing (adj.)
19. s. to practice in order to prepare it for public performance
advice (n.)
20. t. to say funny things

Part 3:

Speaking: Work with a partner and ask and answer ten of the above questions. You have 15
minutes. When you hear the bell, find another partner to ask ten questions.

Part 4:

Watching: Watch the music video. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/RHhkd2B87Q8

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 TEACHER’S NOTES & ANSWER KEY

Part 1
Simile: love is like wildfire
Metaphor: I’m the fuel and she’s the spark

Part 2
You will need to pre-teach difficult vocab. I’ve selected the words I thought students would most
struggle with.

guest (n.)
a person you have invited to a social occasion, such as a party or a meal

famous (adj.)
known and recognized by many people

rehearse (n.)
to practice in order to prepare it for public performance

retain (v.)
to keep or continue to have something

hunch (n.)
an idea that is based on feeling and for which there is no proof

grateful (adj.)
showing or expressing thanks, especially to another person

quality (n.)
a characteristic or feature of someone or something

crystal ball (n.) a transparent glass ball used by someone who says they can discover what will happen to you in
the future by looking into it
accomplishment
(n.) something that is successful, or that is achieved after a lot of work or effort

treasured (adj.)
of great value or importance

terrible (adj.)
very unpleasant or serious or of low quality

affection (n.)
a feeling of liking for a person or place

childhood (n.)
the time when someone is a child

close (adj.)
share an intimate connection with

embarrassing
(adj.) making you feel embarrassed

joked (v.) to say funny things

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opportunity (n.) an occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to
do, or the possibility of doing something
regret (n.) a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a mistake that you have made, and
a wish that it could have been different and better
disturbing (adj.)
making you feel worried or upset

advice (n.) an opinion that someone offers you about what you should do or how you should act in a
particular situation

Parts 3 & 4: Circulate through your class to quietly monitor your students’ progress.

Classroom timer: https://www.online-stopwatch.com/classroom-timers/

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