What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?

The distinction between a simile and a metaphor is rooted in the specific language each employs to create comparisons. A simile explicitly uses the words "like" or "as" to draw a comparison between two different things, allowing the reader to understand that the similarity is not literal but rather illustrative—such as saying "as brave as a lion."

In contrast, a metaphor makes a more direct comparison by stating that one thing is another, implying a stronger relationship between the two. For example, saying "time is a thief" suggests that time steals moments from us without using "like" or "as."

This precise definition clarifies why the chosen answer accurately reflects the fundamental difference between these two figures of speech. The other options either introduce incorrect ideas about intensity, limitations of comparison to verbs or nouns, or suggest that similes and metaphors fall under the same category as personification, which leads to confusion about their unique characteristics. Thus, the explanation confirms that recognizing the structural components of similes and metaphors is essential for understanding how they function differently in language.