The above statement is one of the simple
metaphor examples in literature.

A metaphor

is a part of the figure of speech list in which
two unlike entities are compared to convey
some hidden message.

It is not just a

comparison but an assertion of the entities
that they are nearly something to which they
are being compared.

This is an example of a simple metaphor in
our colloquial language. Here mad means
anger. This was a simple metaphor that has
one link joining the metaphorical sense (

mad

)

to the subject (

anger

).

Metaphors are classified as common and
uncommon types. The common types include

extended

and

mixed

metaphors whereas

uncommon types comprise

absolute

,

active

,

complex

and

compound

metaphors. One must

have a strong understanding of rules of
English grammar and grammar and
composition to understand metaphor
examples in literature.

This is a metaphor in which there is little connection

between the metaphorical sense and the actual entity.

This is mostly intended to confuse the readers.

"A television set is the autobahn of a living room.„

This is an example of an absolute metaphor where the

object has absolutely no relation with the metaphor

used for the former's assertion. Sometimes, this is also

referred as

paralogical metaphor

. The main intention

of such metaphorical usages are to confuse the

readers,

allowing

them

to

draw

their

own

interpretations.

A complex metaphor is one that is used to identify with
some other entity by layering over a simple metaphor.

"Let me throw some light on this subject of philosophy.

„

This is an example of a complex metaphor where

"throw some light"

is used as metaphor

to clear some

point

. In literary sense, there is actually no light.

This is a metaphor in which there is one primary subject
and several other secondary objects used for
comparison.

"All the world's a stage and men and women merely
players. „

This is the famous line from William Shakespeare's play -
'As you like it'. It is supposedly one of the best extended
metaphor examples in literature. The world is described

as a stage

which is the primary entity and men and

women are the subsidiary subjects who are a

part of the

stage

.

As the name suggests, here the core context
of the text is not explicitly stated as it is
implied as self understandable.

„It was extremely hot during the day. We were

almost roasted!„

This is an example of an implicit metaphor
where roasted gives the underlying meaning
of how hot it was during the day.

Mixed metaphor is a collection of metaphors which

may not necessarily align well with each other.

Their usage is most of the time deliberate and

spontaneous. Sometimes they add a comic punch

to the statements.

"Driving down the dangerous terrains of Guatemala

was nothing but playing with fire in the belly.”

This is a mixed metaphor example in literature

where

driving

has been compared with

fire

in the

metaphorical sense.

Pataphors are extreme metaphors. They go way beyond in

expressing a statement by using extensions of a simple

metaphor.

"James and Sandra are having a casual conversation where

James coyly signals for a date. Sandra agrees to catch up on

the coming Friday. Once she leaves, James messages Helen

about going on a date on Thursday. James smiles as the

message from Helen beeps "Yes". So finally he was done

with his checkmating for the day!„

Here the pataphor is created by the word - "checkmating",

where there is an imaginary chessboard with characters

although there is no literary context of the game attached to

it.

Metaphors hidden within a language. They do not reveal

explicitly as metaphors. At times these metaphors pave

ways for other metaphors to spring from them. Root

metaphors basically reflect the understanding of the

individual about a particular situation.

"The defense attorney - Mr. Simon Andrews never

misses on winning an argument..„

Here the root metaphor is clear in the statement where

an

argument

is analogous to

war

. There is a raw

aggression factor attached to the statement where it

says "winning an argument". It gives an impression that

there was a tiff in which one party succeeded in

subduing the other.

This metaphor is an

elaboration of a simple

statement in an expressive way

. When we are told

about something, we always tend to imagine a

bigger picture of it. So the metamorphic linking to

the subject is expressed in a big way.

"Even before the project started, Jenny's thoughts

were already on the wings„

Here the relation of

thoughts

to

wings

is an example

of a submerged metaphor where the thoughts are

projected in a wider picture by comparing them with

wings of a bird.

Created by Justyna Filim
Based on the article by By Narayani Karthik

„ Metaphor

Examples in Literature”