What does this simile mean? "The facts closed in on him like prison-warders handcuffing a convict. There was no way out...."I'm terrible at explaining figurative language. I always feel like I know...

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rshaffer's profile pic

Posted on

This simile is saying that the person felt trapped by the facts and could not ignore them because there was no way around them, much like a convict feels trapped when he is cuffed and can't get away.  This simile works because it tells us that there is no escaping the truth (facts) just like a convict cannot escape his truth (handcuffs).

Hope this helps!

cjobst's profile pic

Posted on

The trick to understanding the simile or metaphor is to visualize it. Place yourself in the convicts shoes for instance. Imagine yourself surrounded by prison wardens, say four to gain a good understanding, and they are all trying to handcuff you. The prison wardens are overpowering and may make you feel suffocated or trapped. Then compare that to facts overwhelming someone as if they were huge wardens with handcuffs, trying to trap you. Get the idea? The handcuffs symbolize constraints on the prisoner as the facts do on the main character. Remember: a simile is a comparison of two unlike things using the words "like" or "as".

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