Simile Theory

Simile Theory is a concept in linguistics and literary analysis suggesting that similes—comparing two different things using "like" or "as"—serve as a cognitive tool to understand and communicate complex ideas more clearly. By linking unfamiliar or abstract concepts to familiar ones through direct comparisons, similes help us grasp meanings and nuances more effectively. Essentially, it highlights how figurative language functions as a mental shortcut, making ideas more relatable and easier to process by drawing on shared experiences or common knowledge.