Similes:
* "Their eyes were like black buttons, their lips were thin and cruel, and their noses were pointed and hooked like the beaks of birds." This simile effectively emphasizes the witches' sinister features and creates a sense of unease.
* "Her voice was like the rasping of sandpaper." This simile vividly portrays the witch's harsh and unpleasant voice.
* "She smelled like a dirty old man." This simile is humorous and emphasizes the witches' unhygienic nature.
* "The hair was like a wig of black snakes." This simile adds a sense of grotesqueness and horror to the witches' appearance.
Metaphors:
* "Their faces were like masks." This metaphor suggests the witches' deceptive nature and their ability to hide their true selves.
* "Their hearts were cold as ice." This metaphor emphasizes the witches' lack of empathy and compassion.
* "Their laughter was a cackle." This metaphor highlights the witches' sinister nature and their enjoyment of causing harm.
Personification:
* "The wind howled like a hungry beast." This personifies the wind, creating a sense of danger and foreboding.
* "The trees whispered secrets to each other." This personifies the trees, suggesting that they are aware of the witches' presence.
Other Figurative Language:
* "Their fingers were like claws." This uses a simile and creates a sense of danger and predatory behavior.
* "Their laughter was like the sound of a witch's cackle." This uses a simile and reinforces the theme of evil and wickedness.
Effect:
Roald Dahl's use of figurative language in "Witches" is highly effective. It creates a vivid and memorable world that is both terrifying and humorous. The similes and metaphors, in particular, help to emphasize the witches' sinister qualities and create a sense of fear and disgust in the reader. The personification adds a layer of depth to the story, making the world feel more alive and threatening.