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
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
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