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A metaphor is a literary technique that makes a direct comparison between one thing and another, giving the reader a better understanding, and greater appreciation, of the original.
A metaphor is a literary technique that makes a direct comparison between one thing and another, giving the reader a better understanding, and greater appreciation, of the original.
Metaphor - a type of figurative language in which the name of something is replaced with something else.
Introduction
Introduction
While a simile suggests that one thing is similar to another, a metaphor does without the like or as to suggest that one thing effectively is the other.
This direct comparison can greatly enhance the audience's understanding and impression of the original concept.
As You Like It
As You Like It
Let's consider an example of a metaphor from Shakespeare's As You Like It.
JACQUES
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
Here, the character Jacques is suggesting that a theatrical performance is comparable to life itself, with the many characters and parts that actors play being, metaphorically, the same as the many roles we all play in our own lives.
We each have our entrance (our birth), our exit (our death), and in our time we will play many parts: child, friend, lover, parent, or any other role we find ourselves performing during our time "on stage".
The title page of As You Like It printed in the Second Folio. 1632. William Shakespeare. Folger Shakespeare Library. Creative Commons
Understanding Metaphors
Understanding Metaphors
Like similes, metaphors add colour and flavour to language. They are also more direct (even flattering) than similes, doing away with the like or as to suggest that one thing might as well be another.
That said, when it comes to identifying metaphors in the texts we study, this can be a little tricky because we don't have the giveaway words like or as that signal similes.
Finding and recognising metaphors is, however, very rewarding, and referring to them in our arguments is an effective way to convince people of our interpretations.
Editor's Notes
Editor's Notes
One of my favourite novels to teach is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.
This fascinating tale follows the adventures of Christopher, a boy who presents with symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome. This results in him being very literal in his thoughts and interactions.
At one point, Christopher reflects on his difficulty understanding people when they speak in metaphors. Metaphors, Christopher argues, are lies, because the world is not really a stage.
However, Christopher also makes clear that he does not have a problem with similes. This is because similes only suggest that one thing is like something else, rather than suggesting it is something else.
What do you think? Is Christopher's argument reasonable? Should metaphors be considered lies?
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