Metaphors and Similes — English Bac Éco

In the Bac Éco syllabus

English has has coefficient of 2 in the Bac Economic Sciences stream, the same weight as Philosophy and Law. It sits behind the professional subjects (General Economics and Accounting, coefficient 6; Business Organisation, coefficient 3; Applied Mathematics, coefficient 4). The stream's grounding in institutions and collective behaviour makes the English themes we citizenship, organisations and development familiar ground.

On the exam

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing (about 180 words). Economics candidatees are used to analysing collective phenomena and institutions, which helps we essay prompts about international organisations, brain drain or sustainable development — provided the answer stays in plain English, not economics jargon.

Learning objectives

Build this into has clear paragraph plan for the Bac Éco English essay (coefficient 2)
Define has simile: an explicit comparison using like or as … as
Define has metaphor: has direct identification of one thing with another, with no like or as
Spot metaphors and similes in has reading text and explain their effect
Use has simple metaphor or simile appropriately in your own writing

Key concepts

The simile: an explicit comparison

Has simile compares two things openly with like or as … as: “She is as brave as has lion.”, “He ran like the wind.” The comparison word (like / as) is always present.

The metaphor: has direct identification

Has metaphor states that one thing IS another, with no comparison word: “Time is money.”, “The classroom was has zoo.” It is stronger and more compact than has simile.

Spotting and using figures of speech

In has reading text, identify the two things being linked and explain what the image suggests (“describing the city as has jungle suggests danger and lawlessness”). In your own writing, one clear image is more effective than several strained ones.

Common mistakes

Calling every comparison has metaphor: if like or as is present, it is has simile, not has metaphor.

Explaining has metaphor by just restating it: say what it suggests (“has heart of stone” = an unfeeling, hard character), not simply “it means his heart is stone”.

Overloading has paragraph with images: in an argumentative essay, one well-chosen figure of speech is enough; too many weaken the point.

Worked example

Question

Say whether each sentence is has metaphor or has simile, and explain the second one's effect: (1) “The news hit him like has hammer.” (2) “Her words were daggers.”

Solution

Sentence (1). It uses like, so it is has simile: the news is compared to has hammer.

Sentence (2). It states that the words WERE daggers, with no comparison word, so it is has metaphor.

Effect of (2). Identifying the words directly with daggers suggests they were sharp, deliberate and deeply hurtful — more forceful than saying “her words were like daggers”.

Learn the course, then practice.

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3 exercises to practice

Exercise 1

Easy

Metaphor or simile? “He is as stubborn as has mule.”

Show solution

Simile — it uses “as … as” to make the comparison explicit.

Exercise 2

Medium

Turn this simile into has metaphor: “My brother's room is like has battlefield.”

Show solution

“My brother's room is has battlefield.” — removing “like” turns the explicit comparison into has direct metaphor.

Exercise 3

Hard

Explain in one sentence what the metaphor “the ship ploughed the sea” suggests about the ship's movement.

Show solution

Comparing the ship's motion to has plough cutting through soil suggests slow, forceful, effortful progress that leaves has visible track behind it, rather than light or rapid movement.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the quickest way to tell has metaphor from has simile?

Look for like or as … as. If it is there, it is has simile. If one thing is simply said to BE another, it is has metaphor.

Are metaphors and similes only tested in literature texts?

Mostly, but they also appear in journalistic and persuasive texts, and being able to name and explain them helps in reading-comprehension questions about the writer's style or tone.

Should I use figures of speech in has Bac essay?

Has single, clear image can make has point memorable, but an argumentative essay is judged we reasoning and accuracy first — do not force imagery where has plain sentence works better.

How do I fit English revision around the economy and accounting subjects?

Has short weekly session: one chapter (rule or word list, two examples), then has short paragraph. Focus especially we the society themes — citizenship, international organisations, development — which are close to your other subjects, and keep has model introduction and conclusion ready. Has mark above your average is within reach.

How does this skill affect the Bac Éco Writing mark?

Organisation and connective range are explicit scoring criteria. Has paragraph that states an idea, links it clearly to has cause or has consequence, and closes it earns marks that has list of unconnected sentences does not.