The Basics of Metaphors: A Metaphor Is a Bridge

A writer builds concepts metaphor by metaphor. Each metaphor is a bridge leading

the reader to more full understanding of whatever the writer is describing. Des
pite how frequently we use metaphors, however, many writers are confused about t
he nuances. I m going to walk you through the finer points of what a metaphor is,
isn t, and can be.
This is the first entry, and it will guide you through the basics of metaphors.

What Is a Metaphor?
Here s a simple metaphor definition: A metaphor is a direct, non-literal compariso
n made between two dissimilar objects, actions, or traits.
In plain English: When you describe a person, place, thing, or action as being s
omething else, even though it isn t actually that something else, you re speaking meta
phorically. He was the black sheep of the family is a metaphor because he isn t a sh
eep and may not even be black. However, we can use this comparison to draw assoc
iations between the black sheep and the person: Black sheep are unusual and typi
cally stay away from their herd, and the person you re describing shares those cha
racteristics.
If the comparison isn t direct, it s not a metaphor. If the comparison is literal, i
t s not a metaphor. We ll spend some time clarifying those two points in future entr
ies.
The Metaphor s Skeleton
Since metaphors are direct comparisons, you ll commonly find this sentence structu
re:
Subject + is + metaphoric comparison.
For example, His heart is a volcano.
She was a black sheep.
onkeys. That woman was a wrinkly cow.
You are the devil.

They were cheeky little m

While a direct and visible comparison is common to find and easy to spot, we als
o find direct comparisons made implicitly through substitution. In these cases,
the original subject or trait is left out, displaced by the metaphoric compariso
n: The cheeky little monkeys came into town last night.
That wrinkly old cow tried
to kiss me. The volcano in his chest erupted.
Metaphors can also be found hidden in active verbs or adjectives. When we say, He
r singing shattered my world, what we mean is Her singing s impact on my mind was sh
attering to my world. Similarly, the subjects being described are left out in, His
voice thundered across the room (his voice s loudness), His heart turned black the
moment she left (his emotional pain was a heart turning black), and She floated al
ong the glass surface of the lake (the surface of the lake was glass).
In other words, while we are traditionally taught the subject + is + metaphoric c
omparison structure, metaphors come in a variety of types.
Shakespeare Struts His Metaphoric Stuff:
More Metaphor Examples
First, let s turn to Shakespeare (which is appropriate, as Shakespeare s scenes each
contain two heaping scoops of metaphors). Here are a few famous Shakespearean l

ines to dissect.
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet is the sun!
There are three metaphors. The window is not literally the east, Juliet is not l
iterally the sun, and the light isn t literally breaking anything. This third meta
phor is so common that we may overlook it, but as a description of how light int
eracts with a window, breaking isn t a literal description.
Whether tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles [ ]
Is fortune literally throwing slings and arrows? No. It s a metaphor. Are you lite
rally taking arms as you struggle in life? No. Another metaphor. Is it literally a
Sea of troubles ? Nope. Metaphor.
Let s see if you can dissect this third Shakespearean line on your own:
All the world

s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.

Metaphors have worked their way into the common language, and have become so nat
ural to most people that they aren t noticed. When we talk about Eating our words, h
aving our hearts broken, or about someone being the light of our life, we re speaking
in metaphors.
To keep practicing with metaphor basics, enjoy the metaphor madlibs exercise.