Special Post on Metaphors

Use of Metaphor

Metaphors are comparisons that show how two things that are not alike in most ways are similar in one important way. A metaphor is more active than an analogy because metaphor asserts two things are the same, whereas analogy implies a difference.

Metaphors are created for the purpose of insightful close reading, usually for the purpose of better internal visualization and comparison to another concept from which one can draw his or her own conclusion. A 'dead metaphor' may appear transparent upon first glance. However, dead metaphors are the most common of all usages because of common cultural or origin specific universal meaning. "I just can't shake it" is an example of a universal metaphor that, because of its contextual reference has an established implied message. Interpretation of metaphorical speaking is 'in the eyes of the beholder.' Is the reader insightful enough to recognize a metaphor? Metaphorically speaking, "we should remove our blinders."

So this is the case of John Spencer's "Dont' Let Them Take the Pencils Home" Mr. Spencer is using the pencils as a metaphor for any/all technology. Unfortunately some people took the post literally - I did not. This makes me wonder, why did I know that pencils was a metaphor for technology? I think part of it has to do with the fact that I have been paying attention in Dr. Strange's class! I have been looking at the ideas behind what we are learning. I believe that Dr. Strange's main objective in this class is to increase our knowledge base on how to use technology in the classroom. If you replace the word "pencil" with "technology" the Mr. Spencer's post makes much more sense.

Students should be very familiar with metaphors... but most do not recognize them at first glance. In everyday English, words are very commonly used metaphorically. We use metaphors so regularly that we often don't even register that we are using them. For example, we have lots of metaphors about weather.

• The sky was dark and angry.
• His lightning reflexes saved his life.
• His sunny face was just what I wanted to see.

The sky cannot be literally angry and no-one can have reflexes as fast as lightning; a sunny face helps us to think of the warmth of the sun and we transfer this to the character of this person. These words (metaphors) are used to express our understanding or our interpretation of the world around us as clearly as possible.

A lot of metaphors relate to nature in general.

• I think this will throw some light on the issue.
• I've made some punch with wine, fruit juice and a little brandy to break the ice.
• The agreement was hedged around by a large number of restrictions.
• That politician is a sly fox.

The use of "light", "break the ice" and "hedged" are all nature-based metaphors that are used to express how we view the world.

A lot of metaphors are based on gardens or agriculture. For example, we often use the word root to refer to the cause of a problem. It can also be used to describe something starting to grow.

• The root of this problem is Blair's decision to go into Iraq.
• If we keep on pushing this idea forward, it might actually take root.
• The Labour Party wants to have a very strong grass-roots campaign.
• After a rocky start, their romance blossomed.
• This is a thorny issue so it will take some time to sort it out.

Many metaphors relate to water.

• The ocean of his mind was awash with new ideas.
• I don't want to go out with him. He's so wet!
• Waves of disappointment swept over him.
• He watered down his proposal quite a lot and in the end it wasn't radical enough.
• My legs turned to water and I couldn't move.

Have a look at these metaphors and think about how they relate to the literal meaning.

• I swallowed his story whole, I'm sorry to say.
• Her eyes were filled with pain and I couldn't look at her.
• Taking this job is a gamble but I hope it works out well in the end.
• Hotels have sprouted up all over Thailand.
• The minutes crept by as the party was so dull!
• Bush said he would stay the course in Iraq.
• There was a huge amount of fallout over Blair's decision.
• Low interest rated fuelled the house-prices boom.
• His idea was warmly received.
• The two presidential candidates were neck and neck.
• We'd better go back to square one and start again.
• His refusal set off a chain of events that ended in his arrest.
• She made a fatal mistake when she signed the agreement.

So - we should recognize metaphors right away - and we should pay attention to what we are reading! I think most students may have missed the metaphor because well ---- they weren't paying attention! They were just trying to complete the assignment.