Metaphor, Simile And Symbol

Definition Of Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that refers to something as being the same as another thing for rhetorical effect.It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two ideas. Where a simile compares two items, a metaphor directly equates them, and does not use "like" or "as" as does a simile

This quotation expresses a metaphor because the world is not literally a stage. By asserting that the world is a stage, Shakespeare uses points of comparison between the world and a stage to convey an understanding about the mechanics of the world and the behavior of the people within it.

The Philosophy of Rhetoric (1937) by I. A. Richards describes a metaphor as having two parts: the tenor and the vehicle. The tenor is the subject to which attributes are ascribed. The vehicle is the object whose attributes are borrowed. In the previous example, "the world" is compared to a stage, describing it with the attributes of "the stage"; "the world" is the tenor, and "a stage" is the vehicle; "men and women" is the secondary tenor, and "players" is the secondary vehicle.

Example of Metaphor:

You may have often heard expressions such as:

He drowned in a sea of grief.
She is fishing in troubled waters.
Success is a bastard as it has many fathers, and failure is an orphan, with no takers.

Simile

Definition Of Simile

A simile (/ˈsɪməli/) is a figure of speech that directly compares two things through the explicit use of connecting words (such as like, as, so, than, or various verbs such as resemble). Although similes and metaphors are sometimes considered to be interchangeable, similes acknowledge the imperfections and limitations of the comparative relationship to a greater extent than metaphors. Metaphors are subtler and therefore rhetorically stronger in that metaphors equate two things rather than simply compare them. Similes also safeguard the author against outrageous, incomplete, or unfair comparison. Generally, metaphor is the stronger and more encompassing of the two forms of rhetorical analogies. While similes are mainly used in forms of poetry that compare the inanimate and the living, there are also terms in which similes and personifications are used for humorous purposes and comparison.

Examples of Similes

Similes can be found just about anywhere; from the printed word to oral conversation; in language, literature, and music. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things that are alike in some way. To help you identify a simile versus a metaphor, know that the words “like” or “as” are typically used in a simile.

Well-known similes are:

“cute as a kitten,” comparing the way someone looks to the way a kitten looks

“as busy as a bee” comparing someone’s level of energy to a fast-flying bee

"as snug as a bug in a rug" comparing someone who is very cozy to how comfortable a bug can be in a rug

"as happy as a clam" comparing someone's happiness to the contentment of a clam

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." comparing the uncertainty of life to the uncertainty of choosing a chocolate from a box

"as agile as a monkey" implying someone can move as well as a monkey does

"as black as coal" comparing the color of something dark to the very-dark coal color

"as blind as a bat" indicating that the person cannot see any better than a bat

Similes Add Depth to Language

Similes can make our language more descriptive and enjoyable. Writers, poets, and songwriters make use of similes often to add depth and emphasize what they are trying to convey to the reader or listener. Similes can be funny, serious, mean, or creative.

Following are some examples of similes:

My love is like a red, red rose.

You were as brave as a lion.

They fought like cats and dogs.

He is as funny as a barrel of monkeys.

This house is as clean as a whistle.

He is as strong as an ox.

Your explanation is as clear as mud.

Watching the show was like watching grass grow.

That is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.

This contract is as solid as the ground we stand on.

That guy is as nutty as a fruitcake.

Don’t just sit there like a bump on a log.

That went over like a lead balloon.

They are as different as night and day.

She is as thin as a toothpick.

Last night, I slept like a log.

This dress is perfect because it fits like a glove.

They wore jeans, which made me stand out like a sore thumb.

My love for you is as deep as the ocean.

I am so thirsty, that my throat is as dry as a bone.

As bold as brass

As bright as a button

As shiny as a new pin

As cold as ice

As common as dirt

As cool as a cucumber

As hard as nails

As hot as hell

As innocent as a lamp

A large as life

A light as a feather

As tall as a giraffe

As tough as nails

As white as a ghost

As sweet as sugar

As sure as death and taxes

Symbolism

Definition of Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.

Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance, “smile” is a symbol of friendship. Similarly, the action of someone smiling at you may stand as a symbol of the feeling of affection which that person has for you.

Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. “A chain”, for example, may stand for “union” as well as “imprisonment”. Thus, symbolic meaning of an object or an action is understood by when, where and how it is used. It also depends on who reads them.

In our daily life, we can easily identify objects, which can be taken as examples of symbol such as the following:

The dove is a symbol of peace.
A red rose or red color stands for love or romance.
Black is a symbol that represents evil or death.
A ladder may stand as a symbol for a connection between the heaven and the earth.
A broken mirror may symbolize separation