Metaphors Introduction

Introduction to Metaphors

Literal Language:When words mean exactly what they say. In literal language, when you say “OMG, I died when I heard the concert was cancelled,” you would be a talking ghost…because you would actually be dead.

Figurative Language:When words have a meaning different from what they say, or a deeper meaning beyond what they actually say. In figurative language, when you say “OMG, I died when I heard the concert was cancelled,” you would be exaggerating to represent how sad you were (and you would actually be alive).

Literal Language:When words mean exactly what they say. In literal language, when you say “OMG, I died when I heard the concert was cancelled,” you would be a talking ghost…because you would actually be dead.

Figurative Language:When words have a meaning different from what they say, or a deeper meaning beyond what they actually say. In figurative language, when you say “OMG, I died when I heard the concert was cancelled,” you would be exaggerating to represent how sad you were (and you would actually be alive).

A METAPHOR is a type of figurative language.

MetaphorsThe word “metaphor” comes from the ancient

Greek word metapherein, which means “to carry over” or “to transfer.” A metaphor “carries”

meaning from one concept to another by stating or implying that one is the same or like the other.

Definition:A type of figurative language in which the author compares two very different

things, and as a result, reveals creative similarities between the two.

MetaphorsThe word “metaphor” comes from the ancient

Greek word metapherein, which means “to carry over” or “to transfer.” A metaphor “carries”

meaning from one concept to another by stating or implying that one is the same or like the other.

Types of Metaphors:simile, simple metaphor,

implied metaphor.

Simple MetaphorThe simplest form of a metaphor says one

thins “is” another thing.

Example: “He is a monster!”

We are using figurative language, so this does NOT

mean the author is talking about an actual monster. It means the author is talking about a human who is behaving like a monster.

“Her eyes were stars.”

How can eyes be similar to stars?

“Life is a rollercoaster.”

How can life be similar to a rollercoaster?

“His stomach is a black hole.”

How can someone’s stomach be similar to a black hole?

“You might be poor, but your mind is a palace.”

How can someone’s mind be similar to a palace?

SimileA simile (a comparison using “like” or “as”)

is a type of metaphor.

“The brownie was so overcooked that it tasted like charcoal.”

“Your absence has been like winter for me.”

How can someone’s absence be similar to winter?

“The trees in the forest looked the same as toothpicks.”

How can trees be similar to toothpicks?

Implied MetaphorAlso called a “submerged” metaphor, because

the comparison is not obvious. Whereas a simple metaphor might say that a person “is a

cupcake,” an implied metaphor would give cupcake-like characteristics to the person: “He can seem mean until you get to know him, and

then you find out he’s all gooey and fluffy inside.” The effect is achieved by describing a person

using words that are usually used to describe a cupcake. Thus, the comparison is implied in the

type of language used.

“Waves of spam emails flooded his inbox.”

What is emails being compared to? What normally “floods” and has

“waves”?

“Waves of spam emails flooded his inbox.”

What is emails being compared to? What normally “floods” and has

“waves”?

Instead of saying “The emails were like a flood of water” (simile),

or “The emails were a flood of water” (simple metaphor), this

author describes the emails with words that you normally only use

to describe water.

“Mother barked commands at her children.”

What is the mother being compared to? What normally barks?

“Mother barked commands at her children.”

What is the mother being compared to? What normally barks?

Instead of saying “Mom sounded like a dog barking” (simile), or

“Mom was a dog barking” (simple metaphor), this author describes

the mom with a word that you normally only use to describe a

dog.

“She sat beneath a veil of willow trees.”

What is the willow tree being compared to?

“She sat beneath a veil of willow trees.”

What is the willow tree being compared to?

Instead of saying “The willow tree branches were like a veil” (simile),

or “The willow trees were a veil” (simple metaphor), this author uses the word veil to describe the willow trees.

Why use a metaphor?Allows us to visualize complex ideas in new ways Creates a vivid, original description of people, places, and events (it’s a strategy for writing with detail!) Forces readers think and interpret for themselves Makes us (as authors) sound intelligent

Metaphors can’t be true or untrue…… but they can be good or bad.

A metaphor that isn’t good will leave the reader confused. To say I feel “as sleepy as a whale” might be a bad choice, because no one knows how tired whales usually feel.