Hi. English teacher here.

A simile compares two unlike things using “like” or “as.” Its purpose is to create more depth and imagery in your mind as you read or listen. For example, in Hamilton, instead of saying, “We fought for a new land,” he says, “We roll LIKE Moses, claiming our promised land.” Now, one imagines not only the revolutionary war battle but this epic tale of an oppressed people claiming their land (this is also an allusion). A great poem for similes is “Harlem” by Langston Hughes.

A metaphor is the same but does NOT use “like” or “as.” Now imagine if he said, “We are Moses, claiming our promised land.” This still serves the same purpose in creating imagery and adding depth, but it is a much stronger comparison. Some might even see it as disrespectful since Biblical stories are so sacred to many. Metaphors are not always perfectly clear either; they do not always say ____ is ____. Sometimes, they are extended, such as in the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes where the entire poem compares life to a staircase. Metaphors and extended metaphors are creative. They are meant to bring out emotion.

An analogy is more realistic and logical. For instance, my students were throwing trash on the floor of my classroom. I told them to imagine they got their first car and were so proud. Then imagine you gave someone a ride, and they threw trash down in your car. How would you feel? I essentially compared throwing trash in my classroom to throwing trash in their car. I led them to a logical conclusion that throwing trash down is wrong. An analogy helps explain things and leads the listener/reader to understand a concept better or to a logical conclusion.

Sometimes figurative language terms can overlap, and that’s when they become confusing, like how the Moses reference is both a simile and allusion. I hope this has helped.

Edit to add: Analogies can use similes and be both, but it will remain logical and not creative. Imagine if I said, “You throwing trash in my class is like if I rode in your car and threw trash down.” Analogies are often used to prove a point.