Similes: In Poetry
Read the poem below, and then answer the questions.
Title: _________________________________
There was an old person of Dutton,
Whose head was as small as a button;
So to make it look big,
He purchased a wig,
And rapidly rushed about Dutton.
Author: Edward Lear
1. 
Come up with an appropriate title for this poem. Write it in the line
above the poem.
2.  Underline the simile in this poem.
3.  Illustrate the poem.
There was an old person of Dutton,
Whose head was as small as a button;
So to make it look big,
He purchased a wig,
And rapidly rushed about Dutton.
4.  Why do you think the author chose to compare the old man’s head
with a button instead of something else small, like a penny?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
© 2015 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
Similes: In Poetry
Read the poem below, and then answer the questions.
Title: _________________________________
The scorpion is as black as soot,
He dearly loves to bite;
He is a most unpleasant brute
To find in bed, at night.
Author: Hilaire Belloc
1.  Come up with an appropriate title for this poem. Write it in the
line above the poem.
2.  Underline the simile in this poem.
3.  Create similes that describe the animals below.
A crab is as ______________________ as ____________________.
A turtle is as _____________________as____________________.
An elephant is as _________________ as ____________________.
A polar bear is as _________________ as ____________________.
A lion is as _______________________ as ____________________.
4. Choose one of the lines above to start off your own animal poem!
Title:___________________________
A _______________ is as _________________as_________________.
He dearly loves to __________________________________________.
He is ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________.
© 2015 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
Similes: In Poetry
Read the poem below, and then answer the questions.
Title: _________________________________
An emerald is as green as grass,
A ruby red as blood;
A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;
A flint lies in the mud.
A diamond is a brilliant stone,
To catch the world’s desire;
An opal holds a fiery spark;
But a flint holds fire.
Author: Christina Rossetti
1.  Come up with an appropriate title for this poem. Write it in the
line above the poem.
2.  Underline the similes in this poem.
3.  What color is an emerald? _______________________
4.  What color is a ruby? _______________________
5.  What color is a sapphire? _______________________
6.  Does the author think flint is beautiful? How do you know?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
7.  Why does the author think flint is useful?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8.  Do you think the author would prefer to have a diamond or flint?
How do you know? ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
© 2015 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
Figurative Language in Poetry Rubric
Student Name:_____________________________
2 points
3 points
1 point
Completeness
All of the required
work was
completed.
Most of the
required work was
completed.
Most of the
required work was
NOT completed.
Accuracy of
Content
All of the
information
regarding
figurative language
was accurate. The
student
demonstrated a
thorough
understanding of
figurative
language.
Most of the
information
regarding
figurative language
was accurate. The
student
demonstrated an
average
understanding of
figurative
language.
The student’s
answers are
inaccurate. The
student
demonstrated a
limited
understanding of
figurative
language.
The student’s
answers were
expected and
included
predictable details.
The student’s
answers lacked
thoughtfulness and
details. The
student answered
with the bare
minimum required.
There are several
errors in spelling,
capitalization,
punctuation, or
grammar.
There are many
errors in spelling,
capitalization,
punctuation, and
grammar. Because
of these errors,
the answers are
very difficult to
read.
The student’s
answers were
thoughtful and
included
interesting details.
Quality of
Content
Conventions
There are very
few errors in
spelling,
capitalization,
punctuation, and
grammar.
Total Points out of 12:
© 2015 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.