Poetry
Some metaphors and similes are quick and to the point; they are there to create depth to the description of character or place. And then sometimes these tools of figurative language are used to create poetry within prose. Such is the following example:
“The sunlight pressed through the windows, thieved its way in, flashed its light over the furniture and the photographs.”
Action Enhancement
In contrast to sheer poetry of the above example is the short but sweet use of a simile for the purpose of enhance. To understand fully the subtle differential, read the following by taking out the simile and replacing it with “on her bed.”
“Constantia lay like a statue, her hands by her sides, her feet just overlapping each other, the sheet up to her chin. She stared at the ceiling.”
Emotional Enhancement
In contrast to enhancing a specific action is the efficient use of metaphorical imagery to enhance a specific emotion. The color imagery here fleshes out the intensity of the emotional reaction:
“He lay there, purple, a dark, angry purple in the face, and never even looked at them when they came in.”
Coloring and Shading
The following example demonstrates how just efficient and effective metaphorical imagery can be. Here the author enhances adds color and shading to a simple act: smiling. The simile economically reveals how many layers of emotional a smile can convey beyond mere happiness or joy. Consider the complete tonal shift the following would exhibit if the simile were removed:
"Cyril felt himself smiling like a perfect imbecile. The room was stifling, too.”
Contrast
An undervalued use of similes is the manner in which they can utilized for the purpose of creating a stark contrast. This particular example is a little vague (how could one really even see a pale yellow lemon surrounded by blackness), but perhaps that is the very point. Only context will tell:
“Constantia, pale as a lemon in all that blackness, said”
