Quick Answer
A simile is a comparison using 'like' or 'as' to link two distinct ideas. On the Digital SAT, similes typically appear within the Reading and Writing section, specifically in 'Craft and Structure' questions. Understanding this figurative language helps students analyze an author’s purpose and tone in literary passages.
A simile is a figure of speech that explicitly compares two different things to highlight a shared characteristic, typically using connecting words such as 'like,' 'as,' or 'resembles.' It functions as a literary tool to make descriptions more vivid or abstract concepts more relatable to the reader.
Question: In a poem, the narrator describes the evening sky as 'spreading like a bruised violet across the horizon.' What is the function of this simile? Solution: The simile compares the sky's color to a 'bruised violet.' This emphasizes the deep, dark purple hues of the sunset while potentially introducing a somber or melancholic tone through the word 'bruised.'
Mistake 1: Confusing similes with metaphors because both are used for comparisons; however, similes require explicit connectors like 'like' or 'as.'
Mistake 2: Interpreting the comparison literally, which leads to selecting distractors that focus on the physical objects rather than the abstract quality being compared.
Mistake 3: Overlooking the context of the passage, assuming a simile always has a positive connotation when it might actually serve a darker or ironic purpose.
Students targeting 750+ should know that the SAT often uses similes to bridge the gap between a literal observation and a thematic conclusion; analyzing the 'vehicle' (the image used) versus the 'tenor' (the actual subject) is key to mastering complex Craft and Structure questions.
Analogy
An analogy is a comparison between two seemingly different things to highlight a shared characteristic. On the Digital SAT, analogies typically appear within the Reading and Writing section, specifically in 'Rhetorical Synthesis' or 'Craft and Structure' questions. Students must often identify how an author uses an analogy to clarify a complex scientific or literary concept.
Diction
Diction refers to the specific word choices an author makes. On the Digital SAT, diction is primarily tested within the "Words in Context" question type in the Reading and Writing section. It typically appears in approximately 15-20% of the verbal modules, requiring students to select vocabulary that aligns with a passage's established tone.
Figurative Language
Figurative Language on the Digital SAT refers to words or phrases used beyond their literal definitions to create specific effects. Typically appearing in the Craft and Structure domain, these devices help authors convey tone or complex ideas. Students encounter these most frequently in literary prose and poetry passages throughout both Reading and Writing modules.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration used for rhetorical emphasis rather than literal truth. On the Digital SAT, this figurative device typically appears in the Reading and Writing section, specifically within Craft and Structure questions. It is a frequent tool in literary passages used to establish a character's intense emotional state or tone.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary device that compares two unrelated things by stating one is the other. On the Digital SAT, metaphors frequently appear in the Reading and Writing section, particularly within 'Words in Context' or 'Craft and Structure' questions. Students typically encounter these figures of speech in literary prose and poetry passages.
A simile on the SAT is a literary device that makes a comparison between two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as.' In the Reading and Writing section, these are used to enrich descriptions and convey tone. Students must be able to recognize these comparisons to accurately interpret the author's intent and the nuanced meaning of literary passages or poetic excerpts.
To identify a simile, look for phrases where one object or idea is compared to another using explicit signal words such as 'like,' 'as,' 'than,' or 'resembles.' Once identified, determine the shared characteristic being highlighted. For example, in the phrase 'the clouds were like cotton candy,' the focus is on the texture or appearance, not the actual substance of the clouds themselves.
The primary difference between a simile and a metaphor is the presence of explicit comparison words. While both are types of figurative language used to draw parallels, a simile uses 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'brave as a lion'), whereas a metaphor makes a direct statement of equivalence without those words (e.g., 'he is a lion in battle'). Both are tested within the SAT Reading and Writing section.
While the exact number varies by test form, similes typically appear in a small number of questions within the Reading and Writing modules. They are most commonly found in 'Craft and Structure' or 'Information and Ideas' questions involving literary texts. Approximately one to three questions per exam may require a student to interpret figurative language like similes to reach the correct answer.
