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Lesson 9: Simile: A Visit from St Nicholas

by Clement Clarke Moore

Performer: Librivox - Rosemarie DeSapio


'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

    Literary Devices Literary Devices    

Lesson 9: Simile: A Visit from St Nicholas

by Clement Clarke Moore

Performer: Librivox - Rosemarie DeSapio

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the poem.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Read about the poet.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

The beloved classic, 'A Visit from St Nicholas,' by Clement Clarke Moore is read in many American homes on Christmas Eve. In the poem, the father of the family is awakened by the arrival of Santa Claus and his reindeer. The father watches as Santa Claus comes down the chimney and marvels at Santa's jolly features and demeanor. Santa Claus fills the stockings, vanishes back up the chimney, and calls out 'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night' as his sleigh soars through the air. The poem contains multiple similes, particularly while describing Santa Claus.

Concepts

Poets often use literary devices, defined as 'rules of thumb, convention, or structure that are employed in literature and storytelling.'

The nine literary devices we'll study include:

  1. Rhyming
  2. Alliteration
  3. Similes
  4. Metaphors
  5. Personification
  6. Foreshadowing
  7. Allusion
  8. Hyperbole
  9. Onomatopoeia

Similes are figures of speech comparing two things, generally using 'like' or 'as'.

Study the poem excerpt from 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' by Mother Goose and identify the simile.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Identify 'Like' or 'As'

Read the similes aloud.

Identify the simile clues - 'as' and 'like.'

  • The kite soared like a bird.
  • Her sunburned shoulders felt as hot and dry as a desert.
  • He was cold as ice.
  • His face was red like a tomato.
  • She was as fast as the wind.

Activity 5: Identify the Rhyme Scheme

Review the poem excerpt. Does it follow a traditional (ABAB), couplet (AABB), enclosed (ABBA), or triplet (AAABBB) rhyming scheme?

  • 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
  • Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
  • The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
  • In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Activity 6: Identify Alliteration

  • Review the poem and point out any instances of alliteration.
  • For example, 'flew like a flash' repeats the sounds of 'f' and 'l.'

Activity 7: Identify Similes

Review the poem excerpt and identify the similes.

Name the pairs of elements that the similes compare.

  • His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
  • His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
  • And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
  • The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
  • And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
  • He had a broad face and a little round belly,
  • That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

Review the full version of the poem. Can you find an additional simile?

Activity 8: Complete Book Activities   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete pages 28-30 of 'Elementary Poetry 5: Literary Devices.'

References

  1. 'Similes.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

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