Metaphors Introduction

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Introduction to Metaphors

Transcript of Metaphors Introduction

Page 1: Metaphors Introduction

Introduction to Metaphors

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“Her eyes were stars.”

How can eyes be similar to stars?

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“Life is a rollercoaster.”

How can life be similar to a rollercoaster?

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“His stomach is a black hole.”

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

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

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

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

is a type of metaphor.

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

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“Your absence has been like winter for me.”

How can someone’s absence be similar to winter?

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

How can trees be similar to toothpicks?

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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.

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“Waves of spam emails flooded his inbox.”

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

“waves”?

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“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.

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“Mother barked commands at her children.”

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

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“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.

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“She sat beneath a veil of willow trees.”

What is the willow tree being compared to?

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“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.

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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

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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.