Similies

Oliveman · May 2, 2007

EDIT: I mispelled Similes in the title. Please excuse me, as this is not a thread about spelling. Besides, I find it rather funny

I was wondering what everyone here thought of the use of similes.

We all know how Homer uses them extensively in the Illiad, so in a sense they are proven to be able to be incorperated in that manner effectively. However, in many cases, I find that similes (and metaphors, for that matter) jump out in a reading and annoy me with their extensiveness, ineffectiveness, or scarcity. I know much of this has to do with how effective it really is at displaying what it is trying to display, but that is also balanced with style, which seems to dictate the effectiveness of placing a simile in a certain place in the text.

The questions are: When are similes appropriate? When are they not? How do you identify your own misplaced similes? When do you know the difference between a poorly rendered simile and an uneeded one? Oh and, when should you use a simile and not a metaphor, or vise versa? What about personification? How do you balance these methods of discription and portrayal? And anything else you can come up with.

The discussion is now open. Writers, let the war of the wits begin!

CaroGirl · May 2, 2007

Similes and metaphors are literary devices that, when used well, take a reader's breath away. When used poorly, however, they pull the reader out of the story and promote the legendary book-throwing behaviour of which we are all familiar, if not guilty ourselves.

Knowing which to use, when, and whether they work is a function of experience. Experienced writers should know in their own work, and certainly in the work of published authors, when a literary device enhances the reading experience or intrudes upon it. I like similes when they're apt, hate them when they aren't.

Toothpaste · May 2, 2007

Well put CaroGirl.

I have nothing to add, like a person who has no math homework.

ccarver30 · May 2, 2007

CaroGirl said:
Similes and metaphors are literary devices that, when used well, take a reader's breath away. When used poorly, however, they pull the reader out of the story and promote the legendary book-throwing behaviour of which we are all familiar, if not guilty ourselves.

Knowing which to use, when, and whether they work is a function of experience. Experienced writers should know in their own work, and certainly in the work of published authors, when a literary device enhances the reading experience or intrudes upon it. I like similes when they're apt, hate them when they aren't.

LMAO and exactly.

Oliveman · May 2, 2007

Well this thread is, intentially, for experience. Examples, people, examples! Let's get some thorough discussion on this.

Rich · May 2, 2007

Like, you guys don't know?

Oliveman · May 2, 2007

Noting we've had many threads in which people ask if a certain simile is effective or not... I thought a healthy seminar-style thread would do us some good.

Anyway-

C.bronco · May 2, 2007

I don't use them very often in prose. In poetry, I'm more likely to use metaphor.
Although,
the other night Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell came on the radio, and I thought, "Hey, this is a cliche, but he carried it throughout. This song is awesome!"
I like non sequitors.

NeuroFizz · May 2, 2007

No examples at this time, but for discussion's sake, I'm going to forward a (possibly) controversial idea. If the similie pulls the reader from the story, with a "Oooh. Cool similie" type of reaction, perhaps it's not the best use of the device. I see a similie used to give the reader an image-type explanation or description within the flow of the story.

Like all literary devices, similies should be used sparingly (in my opinion). Too many, and they become a distraction, a signal that the writer is trying to impress the reader more with words than with story. Other than that, we all have to develop our own personal style with the full toolbox of literary devices. Probably the only way to evolve a successful writing style is through experience--finding out what works through your fingertips and what doesn't. For that reason, all of the examples in the world won't really help because they'll be taken out of the context of the writers developed style.

Toothpaste · May 2, 2007

It all comes down to style. I like to make some of my similies obvious and silly, sort of pointing out the sometimes pretentiousness of using literary devices.

I'm trying to think of an example in mine. But I can't a the moment. I can though think of a similar idea with aliterarion though (of which I'm not a huge fan personally, though of course it can be done very well at times). There are some instances in my book where I go over the top on purpose:

"Lord Poppinjay paused picking at his pinky and peered at her pensively."

CaroGirl · May 2, 2007

Okay.

Bad: Her beautiful leg was like a lug wrench.
Better: Her leg was thin and tapered, like the beautiful bow of a violin.

Why is the first one bad and second one better? Is it subjective? I don't think so. No one would favour the first image over the second. Although some people might dislike the second image for some reason, personal or otherwise. If you dislike the second image, why? If you like it, why?

Nolita · May 2, 2007

I dislike the second image, because to me, a violin's bow looks more like the bones of the lower leg, than a leg.

It did however get me to thinking about stringed instruments, and how the hourglass figure of a voloptuous woman looks like a violin. The bigger the woman the bigger the instrument I suppose.

Big Mama Rhonda was generously curvacious, like a big bass fiddle.

Hee, couldn't resist. It's not very good, but was fun.

Rich · May 2, 2007

I don't think simile or metaphor. If they come, they come.

jdparadise · May 2, 2007

CaroGirl said:
Okay.

Bad: Her beautiful leg was like a lug wrench.
Better: Her leg was thin and tapered, like the beautiful bow of a violin.

Why is the first one bad and second one better?

Like many things, it's context sensitive.

If the narrator or POV character is car-obsessed, the first (rewritten) might be the better choice:

Diesel liked his women like he liked his cars: lean and dangerous. So when Gracie came into his shop, with her lug-wrench legs and her switchblade smile, he was ready to rip.

Arguably, that works just fine...

Note what I did there, though, to make it flow better? The simile would have seemed "constructed," so I made it into an adjective, which feels more natural in the character's POV.

herdon · May 2, 2007

I'd say the basic rule of thumb is to read it. If it jumps out of you it's probably best taken out, if it pulls you in it is probably best left in.

Overall, as said above, it is a literary device that can be used well or misused like a cat stuck in a washing machine.

Diviner · May 2, 2007

Sometimes similes and metaphoric language stop the reader, but that, as in poetry, is not always a bad thing. Ponder this from Annie Proulx' Shipping News:
"His thoughts churned like the amorphous thing that ancient sailors, drifting into the arctic half-light, called the Sea Lung, a heaving sludge of ice under fog..." (p. 3)

It goes on and stops the reader cold, trumpeting that this is a literary novel, full of nicely turned phrases and thought-provoking images. Aptness within the story is not the only issue when using rhetorical tools; appropriateness is also important.

Personally, I like figurative language and wish I were better at it, but it can be overdone and slow a reader down, as inappropriate as a ballgown at a track meet.

Steve W · May 2, 2007

Hi,

I agree with the advice here. They have to draw you in and create a picture that is interesting enough to warrant their space, but not so overpowering they distract from the actual prose. It's a difficult one. I don't use them that often, as poor ones just make you're writing suck. It also depends on your genre too, to a degree, as to what works, how often, and how flowery you can get.

Sorry, but I don't really know what to say other than to show us an example of what you mean and let us critique it for you.

Cheers,
Steve

blacbird · May 2, 2007

Rich said:
I don't think simile or metaphor. If they come, they come.

I concur. The corollary to this being, if you have to stop and work at thinking one up, you don't need one.

caw

blacbird · May 2, 2007

Diviner said:
Sometimes similes and metaphoric language stop the reader, but that, as in poetry, is not always a bad thing. Ponder this from Annie Proulx' Shipping News:
"His thoughts churned like the amorphous thing that ancient sailors, drifting into the arctic half-light, called the Sea Lung, a heaving sludge of ice under fog..." (p. 3)

Gaaaaaaah. That really makes me want to dash down to my local B&N and buy a copy.

caw

WojoWojo13 · May 2, 2007

I think a lot of what is getting said, that when they work, they work, and when they don't, they dont is the reason writers, especially less experienced ones are hesitant to use them.

It becomes an all or nothing gamble. You either hit it, or you miss. And unless it's a top of the line hit, it's usually the misses that the reader notices.

At least, that's why I shy away from them.

licity-lieu · May 2, 2007

E. Annie Proulx is an author that uses similes and metaphors beautifully. She pulls them off every time IMO. Her literary devices never pull me out of her books-and if they do, I'm appreciating them, savouring them as a writer. Anyway...I'm a big fan of well drawn metaphors and similes. I think they capture images far better than weak verbs or unnecassary adjectives and adverbs that tend to weigh a piece down. BTW I love CargoGirl'sher leg was like a lug wrench- rhythmic and great for a comic effect.

Oliveman · May 2, 2007

What about using them as a contradiction to convention? I mean, when you think about it, effective similes and metaphors are present when they expand a topic or make you think about in a totally different way. I also think this is a trip-up of some uses, as "flowery language" is more like "unneeded language" in that it doesn't present contradiction to ignorance of what something feels or looks like, or to convention (cliche). In my opinion, it seems that every calling-on of figurative language is bound to the theme of the story, whether that be to enhance the theme, bring it in a new direction, or just to provide a subtle counter-point to it. This, however, should pull the reader's attention, rather than confuse them.

maestrowork · May 2, 2007

IMHO, similes in prose (as opposed to poetry) is best used to convey a concept or description that would take too much time to explain (and take the readers out of the story) but by using the similes or metaphors, the readers would get it immediately. A great simile/metaphor would have the reader go: EXACTLY, or wow, I can so see that.

It's all about the senses and putting your readers inside that experience. A simile is most effective when the visceral reaction is immediate and strong, without taking the readers out of the story as in "It's nothing like that" or "Hmm, I don't get it; it's ridiculous, I don't get it" or "it's WAY over the top."

Michael Chabon, for example, is a writer who can use similes and metaphors to draw a vivid picture ("wow, I can so see/smell/hear/feel/taste that") without yanking the readers out by saying: "Look at me, ain't I a great writer?"

eliflauta · May 2, 2007

Oliveman said:
Noting we've had many threads in which people ask if a certain simile is effective or not... I thought a healthy seminar-style thread would do us some good.

Anyway-

Meh, depends on the book. If it's supposed to be straightforward, keep 'em scarce, but when you do use them, make them amazing. In fantasy and sci-fi stories, metaphors and similes are what make give the pine needles to the Christmas tree. And yes, you may strangle me with plaid bowties for using that one. Even though it's a humorously crappy example, you got it, right? A Christmas tree without pine needles is pretty pathetic, and you just itch to hoist it by the dusty trunk and toss it javelin-style into the compost pile or something. If it has pine needles, you feel inspired to decorate it even more with lights and ornaments and make it even more striking than before. You see?

JimmyB27 · May 3, 2007

Best simile ever -
"As cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University?"

Personally I'm about as good at similes as a....um...person who's really bad at similes.

Similies

Oliveman

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

Oliveman

Rich

Oliveman

C.bronco

I have plans...

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Nolita

Rich

jdparadise

Talker of Good Games

herdon

What's up?

Diviner

Steve W

blacbird

blacbird

WojoWojo13

licity-lieu

drying and defragging...

Oliveman

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

eliflauta

JimmyB27

Hoopy frood