Never frighted hare fled to cover, or fox to earth, with more terror of mind than I do to this retreat." Is the image used here a simile or a metaphor?

Question

Can than be used as a signal in similes? Is this image a simile?

Answer 1

I'd say this probably would be considered a simile. Similes compare two things, while metaphor acts as if one thing is another. Here, "as" serves to compare your retreat to that of an animal. It doesn't equate them, just compare them, making it a simile.