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Definition of Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like" or "as," but can also... read full definition
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like... read full definition
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often... read full definition
Day Two
Explanation and Analysis—Man-of-War:
Hemingway describes the Sargasso weed and the Portuguese man-of-war (a sea creature closely associated with jellyfish) that Santiago sails by with imagery and a simile:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Nothing showed on the surface of the water but some patches of yellow, sun-bleached Sargasso weed and the purple, formalized, iridescent, gelatinous bladder of a Portuguese man-of-war floating close beside the boat. [...] It floated cheerfully as a bubble with its long deadly purple filaments trailing a yard behind it in the water.
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Day Three
Explanation and Analysis—Clear as Brotherly Stars:
Hemingway uses situational irony and simile when detailing Santiago's thoughts about whether or not he should sleep:
Unlock with LitCharts A+I’m clear enough in the head, he thought. Too clear. I am as clear as the stars that are my brothers.
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Explanation and Analysis—The Marlin Emerges:
Both imagery and simile is used by Hemingway as he describes the first time Santiago lays eyes on the marlin he has hooked:
Unlock with LitCharts A+He was bright in the sun and his head and back were dark purple and in the sun the stripes on his sides showed wide and a light lavender. His sword was as long as a baseball bat and tapered like a rapier and he rose his full length from the water and then re-entered it, smoothly, like a diver and the old man saw the great scythe-blade of his tail go under and the line commenced to race out.
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Explanation and Analysis—Ocean Making Love:
Hemingway describes the movement of an island of Sargasso weed on the rolling waves with a somewhat elaborate simile:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Just before it was dark, as they passed a great island of Sargasso weed that heaved and swung in the light sea as though the ocean were making love with something under a yellow blanket, his small line was taken by a dolphin.
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Explanation and Analysis—As Stiff as Rigor Mortis:
Hemingway describes Santiago's cramped hand with both simile and personification:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“How do you feel, hand?” he asked the cramped hand that was almost as stiff as rigor mortis. “I’ll eat some more for you.” [...] “How does it go, hand? Or is it too early to know?"
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Day Four
Explanation and Analysis—Teeth like Fingers:
Hemingway describes Santiago's first shark sighting with imagery and simile:
Unlock with LitCharts A+His back was as blue as a sword fish’s and his belly was silver and his hide was smooth and handsome. [...] all of his eight rows of teeth were slanted inwards. They were not the ordinary pyramid-shaped teeth of most sharks. They were shaped like a man’s fingers when they are crisped like claws. They were nearly as long as the fingers of the old man and they had razor-sharp cutting edges on both sides.
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