Want to engage your readers on a deeper level and make your writing more memorable? Yes? Well, you’re about to unlock a treasure chest of the right tools. So let’s get started.
Start by turning the key and opening the lid. Come on, now, do it with heart-thumping anticipation, like you’re about to open a safety deposit box that a rich uncle left you in his will. What treasures do you see?
Analogy, metaphor, and simile!
So I got carried away. But you get the point. The skillful use of analogy and metaphor and simile makes a difference in all types of writing. Using them is like pouring energy drinks down the throat of writing that’s about to fall asleep and take readers with it.
Ok, I’ll stop. The problem is, as valuable as analogy and metaphor and simile are, sorting through their differences can be like trying to untangle a well-knotted knot. I’ll stop now, I promise.
Once you grasp the distinctions among analogy, metaphor, and simile, it will open up new ways to express your ideas more clearly.
Let’s break down each one and explore how they work, as well as how to evaluate how well they’re working. I fear some of mine won’t find their way into the hall of fame.
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What Is an Analogy?
An analogy is a way to compare two things by showing how they are the same or different in a detailed way. Metaphor and simile do the same, but not to the same depth.
What sets an analogy apart and makes it special is the extra details it uses. An analogy focuses on multiple layers of similarity. It looks closely at the details to show how things are alike.
Analogy Examples
Life of Pi by Yann Martel exemplifies the use of analogy. Pi, the main character, embarks on a quest to survive. Incredible obstacles stand in his way. Among them is Richard Parker, a tiger. Pi’s struggle on the lifeboat represents a journey of faith and survival in the face of life’s obstacles. His struggle to coexist with Richard Parker, the tiger, stands for the struggle between belief and reason. It also shows the challenge of facing one’s fears in a battle to survive.
Pi’s encounters with other animals adds to this and shows the many layers of his states of mind. These detailed comparisons are not stated outright but are developed over the course of the story.
Thus, Life of Pi can be read on two levels: a literal survival story and an analogy exploring faith and reason. Its complex layers are part of what makes it so compelling.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins also showcases the use of analogy. Each book in the series tells part of the story of a broken society. The brokenness serves as an analogy to many of the social ills found in the real world. For instance, citizens of the Capitol live in luxury. Those in the Districts live in poverty.
In similar fashion, powerful nations tend to benefit from the labor and resources of the less privileged. Other social ills also rear their heads in the story. The most glaring are the abuses of reality TV and the control and oppression of the government.
What is a Metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses a word or phrase to imply a similarity between two things.
Metaphors do not dive into great detail to explain the similarity. Nor do they introduce themselves with words such as “like” or “as.” Instead, a metaphor will directly state one thing is another to show the comparison.
Example: “Her smile is sunshine.”
Metaphor Examples
- Time is a thief. (Here, time isn’t literally a thief, but the metaphor suggests that time steals moments from our lives, just like a thief would steal something valuable.)
- Her voice is music to my ears. (Her voice sounds beautiful or comforting.)
- The world is a stage. (Life is like a play, and everyone has a role to perform.)
- His heart is a stone. (He is emotionally cold or unfeeling.)
- The classroom was a zoo. (The classroom was chaotic and noisy.)
- She has a heart of gold. (She is kind and generous.)
- The storm was a monster. (The storm was fierce and destructive.)
- His words were a double-edged sword. (His words had both positive and negative effects.)
- Life is a rollercoaster. (Life is full of ups and downs, like the twists and turns of a rollercoaster.)
- The snow was a blanket over the town. (The snow covered everything, just like a blanket.)
What Is a Simile?
A simile is a comparison between two different things using the words “like” or “as.”
Simile Examples
- She is as busy as a bee. (She is very busy and active.)
- His smile was like sunshine. (His smile was warm and bright.)
- The water was as cold as ice. (The water was extremely cold.)
- He fought like a lion. (He fought bravely and fiercely.)
- Her laughter was like music. (Her laughter sounded beautiful and joyful.)
- The cake was as light as a feather. (The cake was very light and fluffy.)
- His words hit me like a ton of bricks. (His words had a strong emotional impact.)
- The clouds were like cotton candy. (The clouds were soft and fluffy.)
- She was as quiet as a mouse. (She was very quiet and hardly made a sound.)
- The night was as dark as coal. (The night was extremely dark, with no light.)
Tips for Determining the Difference Between Metaphor and Analogy and Simile
- Simile uses “like” or “as”: A simile directly compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” These words maintain a distinction between the things a simile is comparing. If you see them in the comparison, it’s a simile.
- Metaphor states one thing is another: A metaphor makes a direct comparison by saying one thing is another. No comparison words such as “like” or “as” will appear. This makes the connection stronger and more direct.
- Analogy explains a comparison in more detail: An analogy provides a more in-depth comparison and provides clarity or connection through multiple details and perhaps on multiple levels.
Analogy vs Metaphor vs Simile Conclusion
Before wrapping up, I must add a word about the quality of the comparisons we make in analogy vs. metaphor vs. simile, which takes us back to the opening paragraphs of this post. I piled more than 15 comparisons into these sentences, aiming for at least one example of each type. However, I wasn’t aiming to craft quality analogies or quality metaphors and similes. I wanted to show instead that more isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s overbearing.
I also wanted to show the importance of evaluating the comparisons we make to ensure they don’t distract from our writing and throw readers out. We are aiming for them to be strong and full of insight. We want them to be comparisons that connect with our readers on a deeper level. To that end, we might ask the following questions of our analogies and metaphors and similes:
- Are the elements of your comparisons consistent and not likely to cause a reader to think, “Huh?”
In the opening paragraph, I used the metaphor of a treasure chest and suggested you will find “tools” inside. There’s nothing wrong with the metaphor of a treasure chest, but most people wouldn’t open one expecting to find tools. Contrast this with the elements of a second comparison I employ in the same paragraph: a safety deposit box, a rich uncle who remembered you in his will, and your heart-thumping anticipation as you open the box. These elements go together. I didn’t have to shoe-horn them in.
- Are your comparisons creating visual or sensual overload?
As a Fictionary Certified Story Coach Editor, I know sensory details matter. I check for them in each scene of every story I edit. However, as I said earlier, I also know too much of a good thing is possible. This includes too much sensory detail in our comparisons.
In the end, analogy and metaphor and simile truly are like treasures in a treasure chest, and not just another set of writing “tools.” And mastering them doesn’t have to feel like you’re trying to untangle well-knotted knots. Or break free from one yourself. No frustrating and endless untangling is required.
Start with recalling their differences. Then, as you write them and mix them into your stories, take the time to evaluate how many you’re including in each scene. Aim for high quality, but also strike a balance with how many you keep. Thoughtful comparisons will enrich your writing and create strong, memorable images in your reader’s mind. But too many, or poorly constructed ones, can lead to confusion and distraction. Take time to ask each—Do the elements fit together seamlessly? Do they enhance the scene or idea without overwhelming the reader?
With practice, you’ll master the art of incorporating the three types of comparisons into every story you write.
And reward for your effort? More readers. You’ll attract them…like a magnet.
You’ve got this!