Simile Examples in Literature and Everyday Language

The use of simile as a literary device goes way back in world literature, being found in poetry, drama and prose. The English language has plenty of examples of similes from antiquity to the present day, illustrating just how effective they are at creating a vivid image in the mind of the reader.

1. From the Robert Burns poem ‘A Red, Red Rose’

You’ve probably heard this one before, as it’s been repeated to the point of parody (but you might not have realized that the poem is old enough to include spelling from an antiquated Scottish dialect).

Here, the poet compares his love to the newly sprung (or freshly sprouted), bright-red rose of springtime. In the second couplet, the poet relates his love to a sweetly melodic song.

2. From the William Wordsworth poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’

Here, both the title of the poem and its first sentence uses the same simile. In this as in other literature examples, the simile uses a mental image to create a mood and illustrate an idea.

3. From the play ‘Macbeth’

The works of William Shakespeare have a great many examples of similes and metaphors. In this example, the simile helps illustrate that Macbeth knows the risk he would be taking by following through with his plan to kill King Duncan.

4. From ‘Romeo and Juliet’

This example of a Shakespearean simile makes a comparison between love and the painful prick of a thorn, highlighting the emotional pain that can follow when things don’t go well.

5. From ‘A Christmas Carol’

In this Charles Dickens classic, the comparison between two apparently unlike things makes for a powerful image. In Dickens’ day, door-nails, unlike other nails, were bent in such a way that ensured they could not be re-used.