A metaphor is a figure of speech that constructs an analogy between two things or ideas; the analogy is conveyed by the use of a
metaphorical word in place of some other word. For example: "Her eyes
were glistening jewels".
Metaphor also denotes rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via association, comparison, or resemblance
(e.g., antithesis, hyperbole, metonymy,
and simile,
which are all types of metaphor).
Metaphor
Practicing exercise
Select the choice that explains the meaning of the metaphor as it is
used in the sentence.
1. |
Mel has such great taste
in furniture that I'm sure his home is beautiful.
The metaphor great taste:
Mel
works in a furniture store.
Mel
eats furniture.
Mel
knows how to pick out nice furniture. |
|
2. |
Jeffrey is an ox.
The metaphor is an ox.:
Jeffrey
is deaf.
Jeffrey
is strong.
Jeffrey
is weak. |
|
3. |
The awful dinner became a
rock in my stomach.
The metaphor awful dinner became a rock:
Dinner
made me feel sick.
I
ate rocks for dinner.
Dinner
was great. |
|
4. |
Ed's life is a shadow of
his father's.
The metaphor life is a shadow:
Ed
is a good person.
Ed's
father was a criminal.
Ed
is doing things in life as his father did. |
|
5. |
Mr. Armstrong's bark is
worse than his bite.
The metaphor bark is worse than his bite:
Mr.
Armstrong's threats are worse than what he would really
do.
Mr.
Armstrong is a dog.
Mr.
Armstrong is happy. |
|
6. |
The room became an icebox
every time the air conditioning went on.
The metaphor room became an icebox:
It
is hot inside the room.
You
must leave the refrigerator door open to stay cool.
It
is cold in the air conditioned room. |
|
7. |
The small vessel was a
ping pong ball bouncing on the ocean during the raging
storm.
The metaphor small vessel was a ping pong ball:
The
people were playing table tennis on the ship.
The
boat was going up and down on the waves.
The
sea was calm. |
|
8. |
Dominic is a shark when it
comes to his business dealings.
The metaphor Dominic is a shark:
Dominic
is controlling and powerful.
Dominic
owns a pool.
Dominic
is kind. |
|
9. |
The leaves danced in the
breeze on the beautiful fall day.
The metaphor leaves danced in the breeze:
There
is a fall dance recital going on.
The
air was still.
It
was breezy so the leaves moved. |
|
10. |
This is our neck of the
woods so we are comfortable here.
The metaphor neck of the woods:
The
Adirondack Mountains are nearby.
We
live in the forest.
This
is where we live or this is with what we are familiar. |
|
Metaphor
Practicing exercise-Answer key
- c
- b
- a
- c
- a
- c
- b
- a
- c
- c
Metaphor
Quiz
Write the metaphor that is in the sentence.
1. A man's home is his castle.
2. Mike's mind was a computer; he knows just about everything.
3. After math class, Chou's head was spinning from all the information
that would be on the test.
4. The leaves danced in the breeze on the beautiful fall day.
5. The pitcher on our hometown team is at the height of his career.
6. Whenever Mark sees a poor person, a fire burns in his soul to do
something to help.
7. Margaret was a bright light in the company.
8. I'll never get to the party in time tonight because traffic is
murder.
9. My legs turned to rubber as I walked onto the stage to give my
speech.
10. The team created a recipe for victory.
11. Rich was a skunk after saying those terrible things.
Metaphor
Quiz-Answer key
1. A man's home is his castle.
home is his castle
2. Mike's mind was a computer; he knows just about everything.
mind was a computer
3. After math class, Chou's head was spinning from all the information
that would be on the test.
head was spinning
4. The leaves danced in the breeze on the beautiful fall day.
leaves danced in the breeze
5. The pitcher on our hometown team is at the height of his career.
height of his career.
6. Whenever Mark sees a poor person, a fire burns in his soul to do
something to help.
fire burns in his soul
7. Margaret was a bright light in the company.
Margaret was a bright light
8. I'll never get to the party in time tonight because traffic is
murder.
traffic is murder
9. My legs turned to rubber as I walked onto the stage to give my
speech.
legs turned to rubber
10. The team created a recipe for victory.
recipe for victory
11. Rich was a skunk after saying those terrible things.
Rich was a skunk
Metaphor
Test
I.
Write the meaning of the sentence.
1. |
Mike's mind was a
computer; he knows just about everything.
This
sentence means:
|
|
2. |
Your voice is music to my
ears.
This
sentence means:
|
|
3. |
The room became an icebox
every time the air conditioning went on.
This
sentence means:
|
|
4. |
The full moon is a bright
coin in the night.
This
sentence means:
|
|
5. |
The car is a dinosaur so
we better buy a new one.
This
sentence means:
|
|
6. |
When it came to historical
facts, Terry was a walking encyclopedia.
This
sentence means:
|
|
7. |
The story about the
school's money woes is aging rapidly.
This
sentence means:
|
|
8. |
Jeremy clammed up when he
thought others would tease him about his ideas.
This
sentence means:
|
|
Metaphor
Test-Answer key
1. Mike's mind was a computer; he knows just about everything.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: Mike was very
smart.
2. Your voice is music to my ears.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: Your voice is pleasing
to me.
3. The room became an icebox every time the air conditioning went on.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: It is cold in the air
conditioned room.
4. The full moon is a bright coin in the night.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: The moon shines in the
dark night.
5. The car is a dinosaur so we better buy a new one.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: The car is very
old.
6. When it came to historical facts, Terry was a walking encyclopedia.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: Terry knew a lot of
facts about history.
7. The story about the school's money woes is aging rapidly.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: The story is getting
boring.
8. Jeremy clammed up when he thought others would tease him about his
ideas.
This sentence means:
Possible Answer: Jeremy kept his ideas to
himself.
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