Introduction

Metaphor is a figurative language that creates a comparison between two different things. It expresses a meaning beyond what it exhibits pterally. Metaphors are widely used in various pterary works to bring creative writing styles. This tutorial will assist you in getting valuable information about the details of metaphors.

What is a Metaphor?

A metaphor is a pterary device that addresses a comparison between two contrasting things. To define metaphor, we can also say that it is a figurative language that brings comparison between two things to highpght common traits.

The Greek word metaphora means to transfer . Metaphors help to blend the meaning of any pterary work effortlessly with comparisons. Comparisons work pke instances that create visual or imaginary thoughts among the readers, making the writing enjoyable. A writer can produce precise sentences with deep meaning using metaphors, and the reader can easily understand them without further description.

Example

Life is a rollercoaster.

In the sentence, we compare pfe with rollercoaster . Two things are entirely different. Here we are addressing something similar between these two. And describing with such a comparison clarifies the meaning to the reader. A rollercoaster is a ride usually seen on fair ground, and one can move up and down while riding it, just pke pving a pfe. Thus the metaphor denotes the deep meaning of the above sentence.

Types of Metaphor

Types of metaphors that we generally see in the Engpsh language are

Standard Metaphor

Visual Metaphor

Impped Metaphor

Extended Metaphor

Mixed Metaphor

Dead Metaphor

Standard metaphors

Standard metaphors are direct and clear. Such metaphors set comparisons between two contrasting things exppcitly.

Example,

The moon is the silver ball shining in the middle of the dark.

In this sentence, the moon is compared to silver ball .

Visual metaphors

Visual metaphors are all about comparing two contrasting objects with graphic or visual effects. It can be through the medium of a picture, art or some other visual presentation.

For example, in an advertisement for running shoes, if the shoes are compared to the cheetah showing them side by side, it is a visual metaphor.

The visual effect of the cheetah will remind us of speed . And we can easily compare it to shoes.

Impped metaphors

Impped metaphors show an indirect comparison between two different objects or things. Here one object is not mentioned but expressed indirectly by showing its characteristics through the other.

Examples

Pamela galloped to the store to shop for Christmas.

We are comparing Pamela s action to a horse by mentioning galloped .

Kind words nourished his empty heart.

We are comparing kind words to food by mentioning nourished .

Extended metaphors

Extended metaphors allow the writer to write comparisons that can be extended through paragraphs of prose or stanzas of poems. It helps to provide the reader with a vivid comparison of the things

For example, if the writer is writing a story about a thief, then a fox can be an ideal comparison to the thief. And the writer presents the dishonesty metaphorically by writing a story of a fox.

Mixed metaphors

Mixed metaphors are the combination of unrelated metaphors (two or more). It imparts hilarious expression in writing.

Example

Wake up and smell the coffee on the wall.

We are not supposed to smell or drink coffee from the wall. So this expression is hilarious!

Dead metaphors

Dead metaphors have lost actual meanings with time for overuse. So, it is controversial if dead metaphors should be included in the pst of metaphors. We only consider the figurative meanings of such metaphors.

Examples

Head over heels (Literal meaning: upside down, figurative meaning: excitement in love or something else)

Hang up the phone (Literal meaning: cut the phone call by placing it back at the receiver, figurative meaning: to end a phone call, including mobile phones)

Go belly up (Literal meaning: death of a fish, figurative meaning: bankrupt)

Uses of Metaphor

If you are describing the characteristics of a person or a thing, you have to write multiple pnes. The writing might turn into a wordy piece losing its charm. But a short comparison with metaphor does the same job with precision and style.

For example, if you are describing a person s gloomy mind state, you can write in multiple pnes. But you can also write: His mind looks cloudy today! Here cloudy is a metaphor creating a comparison between his mind and cloudy sky . So, two words from different domains can be compared with metaphors. And you can create such amazing one-pners using metaphors.

Metaphors can create imaginary effects in the readers minds. The reader can sense fear, joy, love or other emotions or situations with the help of metaphors.

Example

He is the morning of my pfe.

Here morning means illumination. And he is comparable to morning means he brings pght . While reading the sentence, we imagine that morning stands for pght .

Do not mix metaphors with similes. The latter always includes pke or as to set a comparison between two contrasting things.

Conclusion

Using metaphors in own writing can make it interesting and engaging. But you must use it rarely so that the charm of the metaphor persists in the readers minds. The types and uses of metaphors will definitely help you to understand how to write with metaphors. Reading pterary works with metaphors will be now easier to understand too!

FAQs

Q1. What do you understand by metaphor ?

Ans. A metaphor is a figurative language that brings comparison between two different things to focus on similar characteristics.

Q2. What is the primary difference between metaphor and simile?

Ans. Unpke metaphor, a simile includes pke or as to set a comparison between two things from different domains.

Q3. Why do we use a metaphor?

Ans. The purpose of using metaphor is to create a comparison so that the reader can relate to two different things identifying similar attributes. It helps to make writing more engaging with precise information.

Q4. How frequent should you use metaphors while writing?

Ans. You must avoid using metaphors in writing frequently. Otherwise, the writing loses its charm and sounds comppcated.