The Silver Chair Metaphors and Similes

The Silver Chair Metaphors and Similes

Sunshine Simile

It poured through the doorway as the light of a June day pours into a garage when you open the door.

The author uses a common experience that his readers might have had to describe the way in which the sunlight streamed brightly inside, giving the reader the impression of a place that was very dark suddenly filled with all of the light outside all at once.

King Caspian Simile

He looked as if a puff of wind could blow him away.

The choice of words in this simile is very important as the author does not merely say that the wind could blow him away, or emphasize the strength of the wind by saying that a gust of wind, or a galeforce wind could blow him away. By stating that the King could be blown away by a mere puff of wind the author illustrates the extreme physical frailty of the man who has up until this time been extremely strong and robust physically.

Dwarf Lord Trumkin Simile

His bare head, which was bald and extremely large, shone like a gigantic billiard all in the sunset light.

This simile shows the shininess of Trumkin and the enormity of his head in comparison with his body. The light of the sunset would not have been very strong yet his skin was so naturally shiny that it shone all the same. Like a biliard ball it was also very rounded, and extremely polished-looking.

Puddleglum's Appearance Simile

He was wearing a high-pointed hat, like a steeple.

The steeple of a church is the highest point and it also points upwards sharply from the flat of the roof. This simile paints a picture of Puddleglum's hat as a long and pointy piece of headware that seemed to point upwards forever.

Prince Rilian Simile

He was dressed in black and all together looked a little bit like Hamlet.

The children would have studied Shakespeare at school and so their best point of reference for Rilian's appearance is the Shakespearian duke. The simile also emphasises the complete blackness of his apparel and the way in which he appeared very old fashioned.

Wet Blanket Metaphor

Eustace chastises Puddleglum for being a "wet blanket" which is a metaphor for being a very negative and pessimistic person who always shines a very negative light on everyone else's ideas and experiences. The metaphor is appropriate because a wet blanket can always put out the fire or the light of anything and the wet blanket attitude has the same affect on cheerfulness and optimism.

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