Transcript Literary Device: Simile

Literary Device: Simile
Like a metaphor, a simile is a form of figurative language
that makes a comparison between two different things.
Unlike a metaphor, similes DO use the connective words
“like” or “as” to make this comparison.
Example: The sky flowed like a large, blue blanket
spread out over the earth.
“Harlem”
Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
“Harlem” – Author’s Purpose
• What is the author’s overall poetic purpose or
message? (Hint: What is the meaning of the word
deferred?)
The
word “deferred” means to delay or postpone. Hughes
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is
exploring, through his poetics, the various possible fates
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of forgotten or delayed dreams.
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“Harlem” – Author’s Purpose
• Through the use of
A raisin - in the
A sweet – syrupy,
similes (and one
sun, dried (sight, crusted, sugary
metaphor), list the
taste, touch)
(taste, touch,
sight)
various objects that
A load – heavy,
the poet compares A sore –
sagging (touch,
to delayed dreams. running (touch,
sight, smell)
sight)
Beside each object,
list any details
A bomb –
Meat – rotten,
provided about the
exploding
stinking (sight,
object and the
(touch, sight)
smell, taste)
senses to which
these objects and
Which of these is an example of a metaphor?
details appeal.
“Harlem” – Author’s Purpose
• What kind of connotation or tone do all of these
objects convey?
The tone of the various objects is extremely negative.
______________________________________
All seem to suggest a sense of ruination or destruction.
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• How do the various similes and metaphor directly
help to communicate the poet’s main message?
How do they impact the reader’s experience?
By
attacking the reader’s senses with multiple items to
______________________________________
______________________________________
connect
to an abstract concept, the poet is able to create
______________________________________
myriad
concrete impressions concerning faded dreams.
Answer the essay question below:
• In Langston Hughes’ “Harlem”, the
poet contemplates the fate of
forgotten dreams. Write a wellorganized response, complete with
relevant text evidence and insightful
commentary, explaining how the
author uses figurative language to
achieve this artistic purpose.
Red – Major Writing Task
Blue – Minor Insights/Instructions