Like a Thin Veil (Simile)
When the little girl strikes her second match, the light burns brightly, turning the wall beside "transparent like a thin veil." In this simile, the otherwise thick, opaque wall is magically transformed into a transparent material through which the little girl can see inside the home.
Like a Little Candle (Simile)
When the girl strikes her first match, Andersen uses a simile to emphasize the surprising amount of light the match gives off, saying it is "like a little candle."
A Picture of Misery (Metaphor)
While describing the visual imagery of the little girl walking on cold streets with snow collecting in her hair, the narrator refers to her as "a picture of misery." In this metaphor, Andersen underscores the girl's sad circumstances by suggesting that the poor little girl exists as a portrait illustration of the abstract concept of misery.
