Definition
 A
metaphor a figure of speech where one thing is compared to another.
Sometimes
the comparison is direct and obvious.
Sometimes
it's not so obvious.
EXAMPLES
These
are all simple metaphors:
He's a wizard with the ball.
She worked her fingers to the bone.
They were swamped with orders.
USE
Metaphors
are often used in creative writing such as poetry and short stories.
They
are often used in adverts and in political speeches.
In
metaphors, a vivid picture is created by a few key words.
Ordinary
writing describes things in plain language.
Here's
an example of a plain statement:
'This skateboard is made of wood'.
But
in a metaphor, one thing is compared to another. Or it is described
as if it were the other. Here's an example:
'His
board has got wings!'
We
know that this is not really true.
But
it adds the idea of speed and flying to the statement.
Here
is another example, from the words of a pop song:
'The sun is a big yellow duster
polishing the blue, blue sky'
The
sun is being compared to a duster.
This
is good - because dusters are often yellow like the sun.
Just
as the sun seems to move in the sky, removing grey clouds,
a duster moves to polish a surface and clear it of dust.
Adverts
make use of metaphor because they can pack a lot of meaning into
a small space.
Kelloggs
- 'the sunshine breakfast'
What
this suggests is as follows - which takes a lot more words to express:
'Have our cereal for your breakfast and you'll enjoy it. It will give you energy
and nutrition because the corn has been grown in a sunny climate.'
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