Selecting Appropriate Meanings Explained by Similes - Metaphor Grammar

Types of Similes - Detailed Classification

In Tamil grammar, similes are classified into many types. Each type has unique usage and beauty.

1. உவமையணி (Direct Simile)

Directly comparing two objects using words like "like", "as", "similar to".

Structure: Tenor + Marker + Vehicle

Examples:

1. "Eyes are beautiful like lotus flowers"

   • Tenor: Eyes
   • Vehicle: Lotus
   • Common property: Beauty

2. "Voice was sweet like a cuckoo"

   • Tenor: Voice
   • Vehicle: Cuckoo
   • Common property: Sweetness

3. "Face glowed like the moon"

   • Tenor: Face
   • Vehicle: Moon
   • Common property: Radiance

2. நிகர்நிலையணி (Metaphor/Identification)

Stating that the tenor and vehicle are one, without a linking word.

Structure: Tenor = Vehicle (Identity)

Examples:

1. "She is a flower" (She is like a flower - shortened)
2. "Life is a battlefield"
3. "Time is gold"
4. "Knowledge is a lamp"
5. "Mother is God"

3. உருவக அணி (Extended Metaphor)

A simile extended across multiple lines.

Example:
"In the ocean of life
When waves of sorrow
Strike us
The boat of hope
Takes us to shore"

4. இயற்கை உவமை (Nature Similes)

Comparing with nature.

Examples:

1. "Walk was graceful like a deer"
2. "Hair swayed like the wind"
3. "Eyes sparkled like stars"
4. "Body was firm like a tree"
5. "Voice thundered like lightning"

5. மனித உவமை (Human Similes)

Comparing with human qualities.

Examples:

1. "He fought like a tiger"
2. "She appeared like an angel"
3. "Virtue protects like a mother"
4. "Friend helped like a brother"

6. பண்பு உவமை (Quality Similes)

Similes expressing qualities.

Examples:

1. "Heart was cool like ice"
2. "Mind was sweet like honey"
3. "Education guides like a lamp"
4. "Patience is deep like the ocean"

7. செயல் உவமை (Action Similes)

Comparing actions.

Examples:

1. "Ran like lightning"
2. "Went fast like the wind"
3. "Spoke softly like a flower"
4. "Roared like a lion"

8. எதிர்மறை உவமை (Negative Similes)

Similes with negative qualities.

Examples:

1. "Heart was hard like stone"
2. "Speech was sharp like a knife"
3. "Behavior was cruel like poison"

9. கலப்பு உவமை (Mixed Similes)

Using multiple vehicles.

Example:
"Her face glowed like the moon,
Eyes were beautiful like lotus flowers,
Voice sounded sweet like a cuckoo"

10. மறைமுக உவமை (Implied Similes)

Similes where the marker is hidden.

Examples:

1. "He fought tigerishly" (like a tiger)
2. "Ice-cold water" (cold like ice)
3. "Flower-face" (face like a flower)

Understanding Simile Meanings - Comprehensive Guide

Correctly understanding the meaning conveyed by similes is very important in Tamil grammar.

Methods for Identifying Meanings

Method 1: Identifying the Common Property

Steps:

1. Identify the vehicle (compared object)
2. Know its main characteristic
3. Apply that characteristic to the tenor

Example:
"He fought like a lion"

• Vehicle: Lion
• Common property: Bravery, courage, strength
• Meaning: He fought with great courage

Common Similes and Their Meanings

1. Moon Simile

• Meaning: Radiance, beauty, coolness, calmness
• Examples:
  • "Face like moon" → Beautiful face
  • "Walk like moon" → Calm walk

2. Lotus Simile

• Meaning: Beauty, purity, softness
• Examples:
  • "Eyes like lotus" → Beautiful eyes
  • "Feet like lotus" → Soft feet

3. Honey Simile

• Meaning: Sweetness, taste
• Examples:
  • "Speech like honey" → Sweet speech
  • "Voice like honey" → Sweet voice

4. Lion Simile

• Meaning: Bravery, courage, strength, leadership
• Examples:
  • "Fighting like lion" → Fighting bravely
  • "Behavior like lion" → Courageous behavior

5. Lightning Simile

• Meaning: Speed, suddenness, brightness
• Examples:
  • "Running like lightning" → Running fast
  • "Shining like lightning" → Sudden shining

6. Stone Simile

• Meaning: Hardness, firmness, emotionlessness
• Examples:
  • "Heart like stone" → Hard heart, merciless
  • "Body like stone" → Strong body

7. Wind Simile

• Meaning: Speed, lightness, changeability
• Examples:
  • "Moving like wind" → Moving fast
  • "Changing like wind" → Changing quickly

8. Flower Simile

• Meaning: Beauty, softness, fragrance
• Examples:
  • "Face like flower" → Beautiful face
  • "Speech like flower" → Soft speech

Context-Based Meaning Changes

Same Simile - Different Meanings:

Moon Simile:

1. "Face like moon" → Beauty
2. "Heart like moon" → Coolness, calmness
3. "Walk like moon" → Slowness, majesty

Flower Simile:

1. "Face like flower" → Beauty
2. "Speech like flower" → Softness
3. "Life like flower" → Short duration

Meanings of Negative Similes

1. Heart like stone

• Meaning: Merciless heart, hard heart

2. Speech like knife

• Meaning: Sharp, hurtful speech

3. Words like poison

• Meaning: Harmful words

4. Friendship like snake

• Meaning: Untrustworthy friendship

Meanings of Compound Similes

Some similes indicate more than one meaning:

"He fought like a lion and schemed like a fox"

• First meaning: Bravery
• Second meaning: Cunningness

Techniques for Selecting Meanings

1. Observing the Verb:

• "Fought like a lion" → Bravery
• "Roared like a lion" → Loud voice

2. Observing the Adjective:

• "Like a brave lion" → Bravery
• "Like a hungry lion" → Ferocity

3. Understanding Context:

• In love poetry: Beauty similes
• In war epics: Heroic similes
• In ethical texts: Virtue similes

Simile Meaning Selection - Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic Simile Meaning Identification

Choose the appropriate meaning for the simile:

1. "He hunted like a tiger"

• a) Beautifully
• b) Speedily
• c) Ferociously
• d) Courageously

Answer: d) Courageously / Bravely

2. "Her voice was sweet like a cuckoo"

• a) Loudly
• b) Softly
• c) Sweetly
• d) Strongly

Answer: c) Sweetly

3. "Time flew like a bird"

• a) Quickly
• b) Slowly
• c) Beautifully
• d) Noisily

Answer: a) Quickly

4. "His heart was cool like ice"

• a) Hard
• b) Soft
• c) Calm
• d) Angry

Answer: c) Calm / Cool

5. "Life is deep like the ocean"

• a) Vast
• b) Difficult
• c) Incomprehensible and deep
• d) Long

Answer: c) Incomprehensible and deep

Exercise 2: Context-Based Meaning Selection

Choose the contextually appropriate meaning for the given simile:

1. "In the battlefield, he fought like a lion"

• Meaning: Bravery, courage

2. "Her face was beautiful like the moon"

• Meaning: Beauty, radiance

3. "His speech was sharp like a knife"

• Meaning: Hurtful speech

4. "He ran fast like the wind"

• Meaning: High speed

5. "She spoke softly like a flower"

• Meaning: Softness, sweetness

Exercise 3: Compound Similes

Find meanings for sentences with multiple similes:

1. "He was strong like a lion and agile like a monkey"

• First meaning: Strength, bravery
• Second meaning: Speed, agility

2. "She was beautiful like a lotus and spoke sweetly like honey"

• First meaning: Beauty
• Second meaning: Sweetness

Exercise 4: TNPSC Model Questions

Question 1:
"His heart was hard like stone" - What is the meaning explained by this simile?

a) Strength
b) Firmness
c) Mercilessness
d) Courage

Correct Answer: c) Mercilessness

Explanation: A heart like stone indicates an emotionless, merciless mind.

Question 2:
"Like rainwater doesn't stay on lotus, bad words don't affect scholars" - What idea is explained by this simile?

a) Rainwater doesn't stay on lotus
b) Bad words don't affect scholars
c) Lotus doesn't like rain
d) Scholars won't listen to anything

Correct Answer: b) Bad words don't affect scholars

Question 3:
"Life is like a river" - What meaning does this simile indicate?

a) Life is long
b) Life flows continuously
c) Life is cool
d) Life is pure

Correct Answer: b) Life flows continuously

Question 4:
Which of the following similes does NOT indicate bravery?

a) Like a lion
b) Like a tiger
c) Like a cuckoo
d) Like a leopard

Correct Answer: c) Like a cuckoo (indicates sweetness)

Exam Techniques

Technique 1: Observe the Verb

The verb following the simile determines the meaning:

• "Fought like a lion" → Bravery
• "Roared like a lion" → Loud voice

Technique 2: Look at the Adjective

The adjective before the vehicle:

• "Like a cruel tiger" → Cruelty
• "Like a brave tiger" → Bravery

Technique 3: Understand Context

Know the meaning of the entire sentence:

• Love context: Beauty similes
• War context: Heroic similes

Technique 4: Memorize Common Simile Meanings

Exercise 5: Advanced Questions

1. Identify the type and give meaning:

"She is a lotus" - What type of simile? What's the meaning?

• Type: Metaphor (Identification)
• Meaning: She is beautiful like a lotus

2. Multiple meaning possibilities:

"He went like the wind" - How many meanings are possible?

• Went quickly
• Disappeared
• Went lightly

3. Choose the correct vehicle:

"He worked like ______" - to indicate hard work:
a) Lion
b) Ant
c) Tiger
d) Monkey

Answer: b) Ant (symbol of hard work)

Important Notes to Remember

1. Know the main characteristic of the vehicle
2. Select contextually appropriate meaning
3. Carefully read the verb
4. Remember common simile meanings
5. Understand the complete sentence meaning