Metaphor

Various objects, phenomena, actions, etc. may possess similar features, which provides the possibility of transference of meaning on the basis of similarity and association, i.e. metaphor. When likeness is observed between in inanimate objects and human qualities, we speak of personification. Metaphor expresses the interrelation between the logical contextual meaning of a word which is based on a likeness between objects and implies analogy and comparison between them.

Metaphor is the expression of a writer's individual vision. It is through metaphor that writers and poets most frequently, though not exclusively, reveal their personal, highly individual and emotional attitude towards life. The metaphor suggests an analogy. An implied analogy and likeness to concrete objects makes abstract ideas more comprehensible.

The stylistic function of metaphor is twofold - as by evoking images and suggesting analogies it makes the author's thought more concrete and clear, and, at the same time, it reveals the author's emotional attitude towards his subject.

Metaphor can be expressed by all nominal parts of speech. The most complete identification of the associated phenomena is achieved in verb-metaphors:

Verb-metaphor: He opened "The Times" and barricaded behind it. (Galsworthy, the man of Property).

Noun-metaphor: The sweet smiling face of the river (Jerome)

Metaphors expressed by adjectives and adverbs are called metaphorical epithets:

Eg. Morris listened hungrily (Prichard)

Sometimes metaphor is not limited to one image. The writer finds it necessary to prolong it. He does so by adding a number of other images, but all of these additional images are linked with the main central image. Such metaphors are called sustained or prolonged. In this case a group of metaphors is clustered around the same image to make it more vivid and complete.

Ex. Mr. Dombey 's cup of satisfaction was so full, that he felt he could afford a drop or two of its contents, even to sprinkle on the dust in the by-path of his little daughter. (Dickens)

The metaphors "drop", "contents", "to sprinkle" are connected with the main image expressed by the words "a cup of satisfaction". This device helps the writer to achieve a prolonged and vivid image.

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