Figurative Language: This is a broad term for any language that goes beyond the literal meaning to create a more vivid or impactful effect. Examples include:
* Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as."
* Metaphor: A direct comparison that says one thing *is* something else.
* Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or animals.
* Hyperbole: An exaggeration for emphasis.
* Understatement: Downplaying something to make it seem less important than it is.
* Idiom: A phrase that has a meaning different from the literal words.
Simile: It uses "like" or "as" to create a comparison. This is what makes it different from other figurative language. Here are examples:
* Simile: "The rain was coming down *like* a waterfall."
* Metaphor: "Her voice was *a soothing melody*."
* Personification: "The wind *whispered* secrets through the trees."
Key Differences:
* Directness: Similes explicitly compare things using "like" or "as," while metaphors are direct comparisons without these words.
* Emphasis: Similes emphasize the comparison, while other figurative language focuses on different effects (exaggeration, personification, etc.).
Think of it like this:
Figurative language is a vast ocean. Similes are like specific islands in that ocean, each with its own unique feature: the "like" or "as" comparison.