Metaphors Introduction

1. Introduction to
Metaphors

2. 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).

3. 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.

4. Metaphors
The 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.

5. Metaphors
The 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.

6. Simple Metaphor
The 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.

7. “Her eyes were stars.”
How can eyes be similar to stars?

8. “Life is a rollercoaster.”
How can life be similar to a
rollercoaster?

9. “His stomach is a black hole.”
How can someone’s stomach be
similar to a black hole?

10. “You might be poor, but your
mind is a palace.”
How can someone’s mind be similar
to a palace?

11. Simile
A simile (a comparison using “like” or “as”)
is a type of metaphor.
“The brownie was so overcooked that it
tasted like charcoal.”

12. “Your absence has been like
winter for me.”
How can someone’s absence be
similar to winter?

13. “The trees in the forest looked
the same as toothpicks.”
How can trees be similar to
toothpicks?

14. Implied Metaphor
Also 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.

15. “Waves of spam emails flooded
his inbox.”
What is emails being compared to?
What normally “floods” and has
“waves”?

16. “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.

17. “Mother barked commands at
her children.”
What is the mother being compared
to? What normally barks?

18. “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.

19. “She sat beneath a veil of
willow trees.”
What is the willow tree being
compared to?

20. “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.

21. 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

22. 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.