Ø METAPHOR
Metaphor is a figure of speech
containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and
primarily used of one thing is applied to another. A
metaphor is a comparison that shows how two different things are similar in one
important way. For example, “Her home was a prison”
You may have often heard
expressions such as “he drowned in a sea of grief” or “she is fishing in
troubled waters,” or “success is a bastard as it has many fathers, and failure is
an orphan, with no takers.” All these expressions have one thing in common: a
situation is compared to a real thing, although the situation is not actually
that particular thing. That’s meant metaphor is comparing the situation and the
real thing. For example,
·
Sea of grief - How and where does one come
across a sea that is filled not with water, but with grief?
·
Fishing - It is not used to mean that
the person is actually fishing; it is an expression which is used to signify
that the person is looking for something that is difficult to obtain.
·
Broken
heart - Your heart is not literally broken into pieces; you just feel hurt and
sad.
·
The
light of my life - The person described by this metaphor isn't really providing
physical light. He or she is just someone who brings happiness or joy.
·
He is the apple of my eye - There is, of
course, no real apple in a person's eye. The "apple" is someone
beloved and held dear.
·
Feel blue - No one actually ever feels
like the color blue, although many people say they are "feeling blue"
to mean they are feeling sad.
·
Inflamed your temper - The news inflamed
your temper is not a situation where there is any actual fire or flames, it is
just a situation where someone gets mad.
All of these expressions are
examples of metaphors. They are juxtaposing an actual (literal) thing and a
figurative thing in order to give more meaning to the figurative concept. To
use the above examples, the literal expression in the phrase is “sea,” while
“grief” is the figurative item.
Ø SIMILE
Simile are very close to metaphors
but simile is an analogy
that compares one thing with another
thing of a different kind. Simile is an expression that describes
something by comparing it with something else using the word like or as. For example,
·
“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
·
"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
blind as a bat" indicating that the person cannot see any better than a
bat can
Similes
can be funny, serious, mean, or creative. For example,
·
She
isn't as beautiful as her mother was in her youth
·
Your
smile is like a flower
·
They
fought like cats and dogs
·
You
were as brave as a lion.
·
He
is as funny as a barrel of monkeys.
·
This
house is as clean as a whistle.
·
Your
explanation is as clear as mud.
·
She is as thin
as a toothpick.
The
above patterns of simile are the most common, but there are others made with
adverbs or words such as than an as if. For example,
·
He
is larger than life
·
They
ran as if for their lives
Different
Between Metaphor And Simile
A simile is a more direct comparison
of two things and a metaphor is an indirect comparison. If you look at a
metaphor literally, it doesn’t make sense. When you realize the comparison that
being made, then it makes sense. Similes are a little easier to understand.
Here are examples of similes and metaphors:
·
Simile:
Your eyes are like sunshine. Metaphor: You are my sunshine.
·
Simile:
He eats like a pig. Metaphor: He is a pig.
·
Simile:
You are like a rock. Metaphor: You are a rock.
·
Simile:
You are as happy as a clown. Metaphor: You are a clown.
·
Simile:
He is as stubborn as a mule. Metaphor: He is a mule.
·
Simile:
The world is like a stage. Metaphor: The world is a stage.
·
Simile:
The noise is like music to my ears. Metaphor: The noise is music to my ears
·
Simile:
Her heart is like gold. Metaphor: Her heart is gold.
·
Similie:
Your thoughts are like a storm. Metaphor: Your thoughts are a storm
The uses of similes and metaphors can be confusing
to people who are not fluent in a given language because they will interpret
the words literally. Also, similes and metaphors can change from region to
region, and even among groups of people, like musicians or teenagers. Sharing
certain analogies can be a common bond in a social group.
Ø Symbols
Symbols
is something that represents something else by association, especially a
material object used to represent something invisible or a abstract.
symbol is the use of a real object to refer to something spiritual or imagined
or simply to evoke another reality. An action, person, place, word, or
object can all have a symbolic meaning. For example,
·
The
dove is the symbol of peace
·
The
eagle is a symbol of the united states
·
A
weighing scale is a symbol of justice
In
literature, symbolism can take many forms including:
1.
A
figure of speech where an object, person, or situation has another meaning
other than its literal meaning.
2.
The
actions of a character, word, action, or event that have a deeper meaning in
the context of the whole story.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses symbolism.
·
It
compares two things that are different and shows that they actually do have
something in common.
·
In
a metaphor, there is an additional meaning to a word. This makes it an example
of symbolism.
Examples of symbolism that take the form of metaphors
include:
·
Time
is money: This is symbolic because it warns you that when you spend your time,
you are giving up the opportunity to be doing something else with that time
(just as when you spend your money, you give up your chance to do something
else with the money). Further, like money, time is not infinite.
·
Life
is a roller-coaster: This is symbolic because it indicates that there will be
ups and downs in life that you have to weather.
·
He
is a rock: This is symbolic because it signifies that he is strong and
dependable.
·
Love
is a jewel: This is symbolic because it suggests that love is rare and
pressure.
There are many kinds of symbolism, like :
v Symbolism in colour
·
Black
is used to represent death or evil.
·
White
stands for life and purity.
·
Red
can symbolize blood, passion, danger, or immoral character.
·
Purple
is a royal color.
·
Yellow
stands for violence or decay.
·
Blue
represents peacefulness and calm
v Symbolism of object
·
A
chain can symbolize the coming together of two things.
·
A
ladder can represent the relationship between heaven and earth or ascension.
·
A
mirror can denote the sun but when it is broken, it can represent an unhappy
union or a separation.
v Symbolism of flowers
·
Roses
stand for romance.
·
Violets
represent shyness.
·
Lilies
stand for beauty and temptation.
·
Chrysanthemums
represent perfection.
