3.1 Simile
A simile is a direct comparison between two objects or attributes that, although essentially different, do have some similarity. These direct comparisons are easy to identify, as they use words such as "like" or "as" to denote the comparison being made. The simile helps to create the clear image, much easier for the others to accept.
A simile is made up of four parts: “the tenor”, “the vehicle”, “the comparing word” and “the ground”. “The tenor” is the subject of simile. “The vehicle” is the thing compared to or the part transported. “The comparing word” is the simile marker such as, “like, as, than, as if, similar to.” “The ground” is the common properties owned by “the tenor” and “the vehicle”.
For example:
“No, no, we are not satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
This sentence is from Martin Luther King's “I have a dream” speech, It can be found that, in this sentence, “justice”, “righteousness” are “the tenor” and “waters” , “a mighty stream” are “the vehicle”. The word “like” signals this sentence makes use of the rhetoric device—simile. Thus by using simile, this sentence makes this two words--“justice” and “righteousness” more vivid and lively. It means that we will not quit until justice is as plentiful as water and is raining on all of us and the force of its power to enforce equality and fairness is as powerful and inevitable as the force of a large river. This simile is effective because it communicates not only the extent of his hope but also the passion he has for the fulfillment of his expectations to become a powerful force that will not be stopped.
Another example:
“America is not like a blanket -- one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread.”
This sentence is from Jesse Jackson's 1984 Democratic National Convention Address. In this address, “the tenor” is “America”, “the vehicle” are “blanket” and quilt. The word “like” is the simile marker in this sentence.
More examples,
①“It hates Israel because of the West -- because it sees Israel as an outpost of freedom and democracy that prevents them from overrunning the Middle East.” (Binyamin Netanyahu, Speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee)
②“I look forward to hearing the truth, exactly where they are. They could still be there. They could be hidden, like the 50 tons of mustard gas in a turkey farm.”(George W. Bush, Prime Time Press Conference on Iraq War)
③“The very many times own body occupies as if in a stage, the criticism and the opposition sit under looked I perform, they meet do not stop throw the tomato and the egg to me But this time I was only thinking how develops own role.” (Clinton)
④“The Chinese held that “one should be as inclusive as the ocean, which is vast because it admits hundreds of rivers” and called for drawing upon the strength of others.”(Chinese President Hu Jintao's Remarks at Yale)
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