Metaphor (метафора)

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.
Metaphor
a sea of knowledge
Writers use metaphor to add color and emphasis to what they are trying to express.
“knowledge” and “the sea” are not literally related
By putting them together, you can accentuate how vast a person’s knowledge is.
they are figuratively related because they are both things that are difficult to measure.

a sunny smile
to purr with delight
iron nerves
Examples

How do metaphor work?
Every metaphorical word or phrase contains a 'key idea'. This is the connection or similarity between the literal meaning and the metaphorical meaning.
She flew past me on her bicycle.
Turing was the father of the modern computer.
He gave me a cold look.

The same key idea is expressed in several different words and phrases.
How do metaphor work?
A good diet will help your body fight disease.
The virus attacks the Peter`s immune system, that's why he takes pills.
Jean has finally recovered after a long battle with cancer.
The key idea in this case is that trying to recover from an illness is like fighting a war, and many of the words and phrases that we use for talking about illness express this idea.

More examples…
Example 1
All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree.
(Albert Einstein)
Example 2
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
(William Shakespeare – Romeo & Juliet)
Example 3
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. (William Shakespeare)

More examples…
Example 4
She was a rock star at our last business presentation.
Example 5
As his unusual emotions subsided, these misgivings melted away.
Когда его необычные эмоции улеглись, эти опасения улетучились.

Classification
Metaphor
trite
genuine (unique)
often used in speech
rarely used in speech
floods of tears
a ray of hope
a flight of imagination
mouth of river
leg of table
bottle’s neck
“Cloud Atlas” (David Mitchell) (cloud - outer shell, a body that our soul takes after rebirth, and the atlas - human nature)
“The silence continued to transmit messages between them.” (Anais Nin “A Spy in the House of Love”) - silence tells more than words
“How sweet life was. She was swimming in warmth and in light, floating on cotton.” (Anais Nin “The Fear of Nice”) - a hero takes pleasure of life

Here are the basics…
• Metaphor denotes transference of meaning based on resemblance, in other words, on a covert comparison.
• It equates those two things not because they actually are the same, but for the comparison.
• Not only objects can be compared in a metaphor, but also phenomena, actions and qualities.
• Metaphors are used in poetry, literature, and anytime someone wants to add some color to their language.

Metaphors do not use words such as “like” or “as” to make comparisons.
The writer or speaker relates the two unrelated things that are not actually the same, and the audience understands that it’s a comparison, not a literal equation.
Be careful !!!
Example 1
Metaphor: All the world’s a stage.
Simile: All the world is like a stage.
Example 2
Metaphor: That man is an animal.
Simile: He behaves like an animal.
METAPHOR ≠ SIMILE

Well…
Now it`s time to do some tasks!

Task 1
1. Which is the best definition of a metaphor?
It`s a device used in poetry
It describes something in a way that isn`t literally true for symbolic effect
it's a simple adjective needed to describe phenomena, events and actions
2. What metaphor can be used to show how vast a person's knowledge is?
a sea of knowledge
to purr with knowledge
iron knowledge
3. Which phrases from the list below are metaphors?
she has golden hair
he has a sunny smile
she is thin as cypress
he has a cold look
she's very beautiful
he is helpless as a child
he is quite attractive
he behaves like an animal
love is a battlefield
TEST

Task 1
4. In which sentence there is a key idea to fight the disease?
Jean was hospitalized after a long battle in the ring.
John attacked a criminal escaping from the police
both sentences
there is no right answer
5. The metaphor "he broke my heart" means…
a) your heart is literally broken
b) feeling of hurt and sadness
c) your heart isn't literally broken
6. Are simile and metaphor the same thing?
No, metaphors do not use words such as “like” or “as”
Yes, they have no differences
No, they differ only in their names
Yes, metaphors use words such as “like” or “as”

Task 2
Match the sentences with the key ideas on the right. Translate the sentences.
I’ve got a window on Friday afternoon: I could see you then.
The facts only came to light after a long investigation.
It was a real battle of wits.
She is at the peak of her career.
John is a real pig when he eats.
He tried to camouflage his true feelings.
Their new album climbed to second position in the charts.
We did battle with the council about the plans.
Let me know if you dig up anything about him.
Untidiness
Success
Keep secret
Free time
Dispute
Discover
* several sentences are possible for one word

Task 3
Create a metaphor using images as a key idea.
Life is a ...
Her eyes were ...
You are the … in my life.
Am I … to a brick wall?
She has a heart of ...
highway
diamonds
light
talking
stone

Task 4
Choose the best word for each sentence. Translate.
I'm drowning in a … of grief.
Time is a … .
My boyfriend is my … in shining armor.
… is on the horizon.
Her … cut deeper than a knife.
My brother was … mad.
The assignment was a ….
It's going to be clear … from now on.
Her … is music to his ears.
… are a storm, unexpected.
Your friend George is just a big….
I'm not an… , but I wouldn't behave like that.
You are my … angel.
She felt … in her stomach when he kissed her.
Breeze
Knight
Sea
Guardian
Voice
Hope
Thief
Baby
Words
Boiling
Skies
Butterflies
Thoughts
Angel

Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune–without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
“I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.”
–Emily Dickinson
Task 5
Find a metaphor in a poem.
Надежда – птаха малая,
В душе моей поёт -
Без слов одну мелодию
Твердить не устаёт.
Сладчайшая мелодия
В свирепый, грозный шторм
Так щедро души многие
Окутала теплом.
Я песню эту слышала
В промозглой тусклой мгле
И в море, мне неведомом,
И на чужой земле.
Жесток, кто может напугать,
Встревожить, невзлюбя,
Ту, что не просит никогда
Ни крошки для себя.

Ed Sheeran Perfect
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect, no I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight
Task 6