A metaphor compares two things that have similar character or have something in common.  Not only does a metaphor compare two things, but it also transforms one thing into another.  Metaphor can also transform ideas into things such as when an abstract idea receives the qualities of the concrete thing to which it is compared.  Here are some examples.

“Blue curtains of the sky” (William Blake) is a metaphor that compares blue curtains with the blue sky.  It also implies that the wide, flowing colour of the sky reminds him of blue curtains in the windows of his living room gently blowing in the wind.  Blake transforms the sky by describing it as curtains, which we can see and touch closely.  This is deeper than just saying “as blue as” which would only compare the colour.  How do you think Blake might have described clouds?  Try writing a metaphor yourself:

The white _________ of the __________.

Metaphor is embedded (built-in) to language and sometimes we might not even notice it.  Watch carefully and see how it deepens your understanding and feelings.

“Big questions bruised my mind” (Elizabeth Jennings) compares the power and strength of a question to hurt her mind physically.  She shows that the questions are very painful, thus hurting her mind, metaphorically.  Of course, we know that her mind does not get a bruise, but we recognize the comparison with a painful bruise on the skin.  She creates a metaphor by using the verb “bruised” with the abstract noun “questions.”  She transforms the abstract idea of “questions” with the physical idea of “bruise” to give us a colourful, physical experience of her idea.  How do you think Jennings would describe the answers in her mind?  Try writing a metaphor in Jennings’s style:

______ answers _______ my ________.

Metaphor is the largest tree in the forest of poetry.  This comparison shows that metaphor is important to poetry in the same way that the largest tree is important to the forest.  The largest tree has great experience and vision to share with the forest.  This shows that metaphor develops experience and vision in poetry.  This example shows that metaphors are vital to poetry through a visual comparison to the forest.  This gives deeper insight than a literal idea such as:  Metaphor is very important to poetry.

Identify the Power of Metaphor

Which of these lines of poetry is the best?  Why?  Which line is strongest?  Which line gives the deepest meaning?  Which line is most interesting?  (One of the lines is by Walt Whitman).  Evaluate the strength and weakness in each line to develop your own skill in creating excellent metaphors.

A.        My mood is always changing; sometimes happy, sometimes sad

B.         Grass is the flag of my emotions, blowing in the wind

C.        My mood changes as quickly as my sister changes the radio station

Growing up is a War

In the following exercise, demonstrate that growing up is a war.  The first step is to list the characteristics and events of “growing up” in the left column.  After writing fourteen examples about “growing up,” fill in the right column with elements of war that compare to the experience of growing up.  See example 1. 

You can also begin by considering a concept about war and then finding a comparable concept about growing up.  See example 8.

Write a line of poetry that makes a metaphor comparing each pair of items.  For example: 

My brothers and I are soldiers fighting against our parents

The bomb dropped when I showed my dad my test scores

Finishing your Poem

Be careful that your poem doesn’t have too many metaphors or it will seem “over-crowded.”  Choose your best metaphors to keep in the poem and cut down the others that are not so strong or clear.  Share your poem with your family (if you’re brave enough).