Similes, metaphors and personification for 11+ English

Published 24 October 2026 by 11+ Texts

Simile

A simile compares one thing to another using "like" or "as". In The fog crept through the streets like a grey cat, the comparison suggests the fog moves silently and slowly, which can make the scene feel quiet and slightly sinister.

Metaphor

A metaphor says one thing is another, without "like" or "as". In The classroom was a zoo, the room isn't literally full of animals, but the metaphor suggests it is noisy, wild and out of control.

Personification

Personification gives human feelings or actions to something that isn't human, such as weather, places or objects. A wind that "howls" or a house that "broods" is being personified. It often creates mood, for example making a setting feel threatening or welcoming. The Wind in the Willows is full of animals who think and behave like people, which makes it a natural text for discussing this.

Adjective choice

Sometimes a question asks about a single word. Why did the writer choose "icy" rather than "unfriendly"? Stronger, more precise adjectives create a sharper picture and show the writer's attitude.

How to explain the effect

A good answer has three parts:

1. Name it: "This is a simile."
2. Quote it: give the short phrase.
3. Explain it: "It makes the reader imagine… / It suggests that… / It creates a mood of…"

Avoid vague comments such as "it makes it more interesting". Say what the reader pictures or feels, and why.

Practising at home

When you read together, collect examples in a notebook under the headings simile, metaphor and personification, and talk about what each one makes you picture. Each 11+ Texts study pack includes a 6-mark device-spotting section built around the story your child has just read, with model explanations in the answer guide.