Metaphor Essay Examples

List of literary devices chapter 6/7/8 Brave words – Personification, the authors way of telling what he’s saying without writing it directly He was surrounded on all sides by chasms of empty air. – Metaphor – Relates to the headline of the chapter “beast from the air”, the word empty might refer to the fact […]

Textual Analysis of Poetry Question 1: Sketching a Thatcher with metaphors It is certainly true that one of the distinguishing features of poetic texts is the use of figurative or non-literal language – this essay highlights the fact that metaphors do contribute to the understanding of a poem. Ted Hughes’ poem, Sketching a Thatcher, is […]

William Shakespeare and John Donne are early masters of the English verse. We see their textual dexterity, skilful turn of phrase and creative metaphor in their body of work. The two poems chosen for this essay are about love. But what makes them stand out from conventional love poetry is that they project praise of […]

After the Death of His Wife is Kakinomoto Hitomoro’s work eloquently articulating a husband’s feelings and traverses the whole gamut of emotions in such a situation.  Full of imagery and metaphorical illustrations, his candid choice of words makes it easy for the reader to comprehend the pathos surrounding the husband.

Philip Larkin’s ‘Ambulances’ is a poem that describes the literal journey of an ambulance that also takes on an increasingly sinister metaphorical value. The ambulance weaves through the busy afternoon streets, demanding the attention of passers-by while forcing the reader to acknowledge the ambulance’s symbolic significance as a reminder of our own mortality. By close […]

On the 23rd of March in 1775, Patrick Henry’s speech calling for a revolution became one of the most famous speeches in American History. Through the use of anaphora and metaphor, Henry manifests the urgency of the revolution and bolsters his reasoning for it. Henry refers to the anaphora’s to guide into the reason why […]

A writer must employ a variety of rhetorical devices in order to convey the emotions of a character. If these techniques are used well, the character becomes more real to the reader. In his play Henry VIII, William Shakespeare does a remarkable job of conveying the emotions of his character Cardinal Wolsey, who has just […]

Two poems that use language and layout for effect are, ‘Two scavengers in a truck, two beautiful people in a Mercedes’ by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and ‘Blessing’ by Imtiaz Dharker. Both poems were set in very different places and with different cultures. ‘Two Scavengers’ was set in America in the 1950s where lots of people were […]

“The Writer” by Richard Wilbur makes use of metaphors and poetic devices such as assonance to show the journey of a girl’s struggles to overcome the obstacles of adolescence and gain independence. This poem uses two metaphors to convey its message. The first metaphor is comparing the girl’s journey to a journey across the sea. […]

Graduation caps fly into the air, cheers erupt, and diplomas are received. This is a typical graduation day. Not only did these ceremonial events take place for Tulane University’s class of 2009, but Ellen DeGeneres was there to congratulate them as well! This class was dubbed the “Katrina Class” for being survivors of the devastating […]

The world’s wife is a compilation of poems published in 1999 and written by Carol Ann Duffy, a modern feminist poet. It covers various myths in order to give women a voice. This includes the short monologue like poem: “Medusa”. How do metaphors, symbols and allegories contribute in clarifying the meanings of the poem? Primarily, […]

An individual can feel isolated and alienated if they don’t feel a sense of belonging to a certain community, place or even themselves. Feeling acceptance is an important aspect of belonging and can intensify an individual’s sense of belonging. Peter Skryznecki’s anthology Immigrant Chronicle, including poems ‘Migrant Hostel’ and ‘Feliks Skryznecki’. These poems explore how […]

The novel The Running Man by Michael Gerard Bauer explores the effects of war and societal expectations through different relationships. Similarly, Bruce Dawe’s poem ‘Weapons Training’ uses the relationship between a drill sergeant, soldiers, and their enemy to portray the brutality and demands of war and society. The theme of the effects of war is […]

The text under review is the extract from the play “Heartbreak House” by B. Shaw. The author is the greatest satirical dramatist, who marked the beginning of a new period in the history of English drama and revolutionized English drama in content and form, where he exposed the vices of the society he lived in […]

“How is the idea of people and their relationship to the environment portrayed in Folucher’s Poetry? ” In Foulcher’s poetry he shows the different types of relationships people can have with their surrounding environment. In the writers poems ‘Loch Ard Gorge’ and ‘Summer Rain’ he focuses on the different elements of nature that people have […]

Explain how Robert Frost uses inverted word order in “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. ” What effect does Frost’s word order have on the poem? Does it contribute to your understanding and/or enjoyment of the poem? Robert Frost’s inverted word order in “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, gives me, as a […]

As important as it is for a successful poem to feature well-crafted language and perceptive figurative language, as well as demonstrating a mastery of form and prosody, a good poem usually is considered to express meaning. The meaning of a poem may be immediately apparent or it may require repeated readings and reflection in order […]

The poem “Yellow Palm” follows a similar theme, portraying the problems which are present in Baghdad. Looking at the different structures and forms used in both poems, they contrast the difference between one speaker being confused, and not knowing what’s happening, to a very loosely structured ballad. Within the poem “Belfast Confetti”, Ciaran Carson does […]

In the oration to Governor Isaac I. Stevens by Chief Seattle, Seattle uses figurative language and structural organization to convey his purpose. Seattle’s purpose is to show the US government that even if his tribe is physically moved or not on earth, they will continue to live spiritually among the americans since the dead do […]

In 1967, The Beatles played “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” a song written by John Lennon. This piece invites the listener into a thrilling imaginative realm. Some interpret the lyrics as portraying LSD-induced hallucinations and fantasies, while others propose that the song is mainly about Lennon’s girlfriend, Lucy. The song “Lucy In The Sky […]

The poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost explores the theme of choices and their impact on our life’s journey. It serves as a metaphor for a journey, and Frost employs various language techniques to convey his message. The simplicity of the poem encourages readers to deeply contemplate even the smallest details. Furthermore, the […]

Through the use of a negative connotation, an angry tone, and fearful figurative language Jonathan Edwards attempts to persuade the audience that without being born again you will be condemned to hell. This excerpt from “Sinners in the Hands of an angry God” written by Jonathan Edwards is very argumentative and attempts a high level […]