Various Types of Metaphor

Update: I have a recent post that provides examples of the following metaphor types. Click here to read "Examples of Metaphor".

We all know what a metaphor is, right? I understand the basic use and definition:

“A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in ‘a sea of troubles’ or ‘All the world's a stage’”  - Dictionary.com

But it seems, with every person on the planet, there exists a separate type (or sub-type maybe) of metaphor. Not only do these exist, but people have given the similar ones different names as well. Now I enter into the mystifying land of confusion!

Just in case you weren’t aware from the ridiculous paragraph above, there are multiple types of metaphor. I’m not going to try and understand each one of these any time soon, but I thought I’d list a few (found at Wikipedia) anyway. Maybe your mind is more capable of grasping some of these:

Extended Metaphor: “…one that sets up a principal subject with several subsidiary subjects or comparisons. The above quote from As you like it is a good example. The world is described as a stage and then men and women are subsidiary subjects that are further described in the same context.”

Dead Metaphor: “…is one in which the sense of a transferred image is not present. Example: ‘to grasp a concept’ or ‘to gather you've understood.’ Both of these phrases use a physical action as a metaphor for understanding (itself a metaphor), but in none of these cases do most speakers of English actually visualize the physical action. Dead metaphors, by definition, normally go unnoticed. Some people make a distinction between a ‘dead metaphor’ whose origin most speakers are entirely unaware of (such as ‘to understand’ meaning to get underneath a concept), and a dormant metaphor, whose metaphorical character people are aware of but rarely think about (such as ‘to break the ice’).”

And to top it all off, here’s one that I find very interesting:

Antimetaphor: “…is one in which there is no discernible point of resemblance between the idea and the image. Example: ‘The couch is the autobahn of the living room.’”

Don’t you like that one? That’s kind of stretching it from the boundaries of what a metaphor is and into, well, I have no idea. Ok, honestly, I understand it a little bit, but it’s not something I imagine using too often. Let’s see if I can come up with one example of an Antimetaphor:

“My laptop is the entertainment center of my apartment.”

There, whatever that means. Wasn’t it beautiful though?

Those three definitions came from the an entry from the Wikipedia. The article also holds many other types of metaphor if you’re interested.

When I read, I enjoy these literary devices, and appreciate that various authors take the time to include them. They help me to draw a better picture in my head of the matter at hand, especially when it pertains to a character.

Do you enjoy using this figure of speech? Can you think of some authors who tend to use it very well?

Comments

[1ConfusedWriter]

Yeah, I think there is a fine line between a good, useful metaphor, and one that gives too much information. Over describing something (at least in my opinion) will only serve to distract the reader from what you really want them to see.

Good point, Mike.

Thanks,

Vic

[Mike]

Vic,

Great post! One of the "meat and potatos" in my opinion is metaphors...and their uses. I struggle all the time, usually cutting my metaphors in half or eliminating them altogether. Example, "The freshly fallen snow lay on the lawn like a blanket coverning the hills that rolled to the horizon like and angry storm." Inevitably, when I re-read that, I'd want to probably just eliminate it because I find it deoplrabe when I use "like" for a metaphor. To me, it seems to take away from the visual of the object and place it on the metaphor..as in, the hills get lost, and instead you're visualizing an angry sea. So maybe, "...covering the angry sea that was the rolling hills of his front yard."

I love using metaphors, all kinds, but am afraid of over-using them and peppering my work with over descriptive language. It's something I constantly struggle with.