Dictionary Definition-
The English word metaphor has its roots in Old French, Latin and Greek, dating back as far as the late 15th century. The French word métaphore is practically identical. The Latin metaphora means "carrying over" while the Greek metaphero combines the terms "meta" - between - and "phero" - to bear or carry.
Why do we use Metaphors in poetry or prose?
The use of a metaphor serves to accomplish two objectives:
- it injects colour into your language
- it adds depth and power to your description, helping other people visualise precisely what you mean
An example of a metaphor being used in poetry:
A metaphor can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, It can be short and precise or become an extended metaphor where an entire story or poem is used to compare one thing to another, such as in Carl Sandburg's poem Fog.
The fog comes
on little cat feet. ← Metaphor
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
on little cat feet. ← Metaphor
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Metaphors are meant to create an impact in the minds of the readers. The aim of this literary tool is to convey a thought more forcefully than a plain statement would.
They are exaggerated expressions no doubt, but they are exaggerated because they are supposed to paint a vivid picture or become a profound statement or saying.
Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that uses the words "like" or "as" to compare two, unlike objects. The purpose of the simile is to give information about one object that is unknown by the reader by comparing it to something with which the reader is familiar. It helps the reader to gain more vivid imagery. Without the comparison, the reader would not be able to understand the emphasis of certain emotions or situations, for example;
“Friends are like chocolate cake
You can never have too many.
Chocolate cake is like heaven -
Always amazing you with each taste or feeling.
Chocolate cake is like life with so many different pieces.
Chocolate cake is like happiness, you can never get enough of it.”
All similes have been highlighted in bold, this poem was written by an unknown author but it shows how similes can be successful in poems. By using the comparison it gives the reader a larger understanding. by the author likening their friends to chocolate cake which they then describe as being happiness and full of life it gives positive imagery to the reader showing a successful use of simile. Famous simile poems also include 'Twinkle Twinkle Star'
Analogy
The Oxford English Dictionary defines analogy as “a comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification”.
The overall effect of a good analogy is to make the writing clearer, more persuasive and more interesting.
Analogies draw on metaphors and similes to create more extensive and detailed descriptions that take complex subjects and simplify them through comparison. This simplification helps the reader to understand the original concept.
For example:“Structure of an atom is like a solar system. Nucleus is the sun and electrons are the planets revolving around their sun.”
The first sentence of this analogy is a simile and the second sentence is a metaphor. When combined, they explain the structure of an atom in a simplified and more familiar way.
Showing something in a similar situation can be very persuasive as the reader is forced to apply what they know about one situation to the other.
Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen), for instance, there is the following line:
“... worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.”
Because we already know that chewing bubble gum will in no way help to solve an algebra equation and it would be foolish to think otherwise, we can see that Luhrmann is suggesting that worrying is equally as foolish and unlikely to affect the situation.
Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen), for instance, there is the following line:
“... worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.”
Because we already know that chewing bubble gum will in no way help to solve an algebra equation and it would be foolish to think otherwise, we can see that Luhrmann is suggesting that worrying is equally as foolish and unlikely to affect the situation.
Finally, analogies simply add a more engaging tone to a piece of writing and make everything a little more colourful. The Lemony Snicket books use vivid analogies quite liberally, such as “Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don’t always like.” This analogy not only gives a simplified idea of the concept of fate, but provides the reader with something interesting to spark their imagination.
