"Miss Virginia E. Otis was a little girl of fifteen, lithe and lovely as a fawn" (Simile)
This simile is used to introduced Virginia at the start of the story. The comparison indicates her fragility and innocence, since she is likened to a young deer, which is typically considered a vulnerable creature. By comparing Virginia to an animal, the idea is also planted that she is more closely aligned with Nature than with human society: she values following her natural compassion and doing what she thinks is right, not following social codes and norms.
"His eyes were as red as burning coals" (Simile)
This simile is used to describe the ghost's fearsome appearance when Mr. Otis first sees him. Burning coals carry the suggestion of causing pain, which implies the ghost may be capable of violence, and also raise the traditional idea of hell as a fiery, burning place, suggesting that the ghost is some sort of cursed spirit. The simile is a very traditional way of describing a ghost, monster, or other supernatural figure, and it therefore conforms to readers' expectations of a conventional Gothic story. However, the simile serves to enhance the comedy that follows when Mr. Otis shows no sign of being afraid of the ghost.
"A horrible spectre, motionless as a carven image" (Simile)
This simile is used to describe the "ghost" that the Ghost of Canterville is initially terrified by, only to later realize that he has been the victim of a cruel prank. The simile compares the fake ghost to a sculpture or to an image carved of stone, and therefore puts an emphasis on its stillness. By drawing attention to the way the fake ghost is motionless, the simile foreshadows the revelation that it is not a real ghost. The simile also plays with a contrast in different art forms: the "real" Canterville Ghost is often compared to an actor whereas the "fake" ghost is compared to a sculpture. Just like an actor can perform art in a more vivid way by being able to speak and move around, the "fake" ghost can only try to instill terror by remaining still and lifeless.
"A hideous garment, like to his own, swathed with its silent snows the Titan form" (Metaphor)
This metaphor is part of the description of the fake ghost that tricks and upsets the Canterville Ghost. The white cloth of the fake ghost's garment is compared to "silent snows," and the large size of its body is compared to a Titan. Since Titans were mythological figures known for their huge and often fierce or threatening bodies, this metaphor communicates why the Canterville Ghost is scared of this other ghost. The metaphors give the description of the fake ghost a poetic and artistic tone that helps to make the moment confusing to both the Canterville Ghost and the reader: this type of language seems to suggest that the story has shifted into a Gothic or supernatural tone where threatening spirits might actually appear. The language here also heightens the contrast with the mundane reality when it is later revealed that the fake ghost is made out of household materials like turnips and bedsheets.
"Her little lips trembled like rose-leaves" (Simile)
This simile is used to describe Virginia's reaction when she learns that the ghost has not slept peacefully for more than 300 years. The trembling reveals that she is upset on his behalf, while the comparison of the trembling to rose-leaves implies that she remains attractive even while she displays this emotion. If anything, Virginia's sensitivity and empathy enhance her beauty. The simile suggests that Virginia is also natural and authentic: she doesn't try to hide her emotions, but rather openly displays them, just like the natural world does not hide or fake anything.
