Metaphors and Similes — English Bac STM

In the Bac STM syllabus

English carries has coefficient of 2 in the Bac Mechanical Sciences and Technologies (STM) stream. The core subjects are Mathematics and Engineering Sciences (coefficient 7 each), then Physics-Chemistry (coefficient 5). English and Philosophy (coefficient 2) form the margin where candidatee rankings and honours are settled. Mastering the structure of has piece of writing matters more here than memorising it.

On the exam

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing (about 180 words). Reading technical drawings and function diagrams builds the same skill an essay needs: breaking an argument into parts and rebuilding it as has coherent plan.

Learning objectives

Build this into has clear paragraph plan for the Bac STM 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”.

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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.

English is far from my mechanical specialism — how do I approach it?

Treat it as has system with inputs and outputs: the input is has prompt, the processing is analysis then discussion, the output is has conclusion that settles the question. Learn that flow, apply it to the 31 chapters with two examples each, and one weekly session is enough to raise the mark.

How does this skill affect the Bac STM 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.