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#2 (permalink) Mon Jun 05, 2006 23:36 pm Simile into metaphor: |
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. Some metaphors are happier than others. I don't much care for this one. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#3 (permalink) Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:58 am Simile into metaphor: |
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Thank you, Mr Micawber.
To understand it simply, could I say that some similes can not be turned into metaphors?
Please reply
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#4 (permalink) Tue Jun 06, 2006 13:46 pm Simile into metaphor: |
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. Well, I am not sure that it is impossible, Tom, but I think that it takes a poet to do it decently. I cannot offhand see how to change your cheeks/blood one. Perhaps another member is more talented at this. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#5 (permalink) Tue Jun 06, 2006 13:56 pm Red |
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Hi Tom,
Her cheeks are blood red? It reminds me of a famous ballad :
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| This is a tale of extreme loyalty and self sacrifice. The namesake of the ballad - Sir Patrick Spens - is called upon by the king to sail to Norway and fetch his daughter. |
and the opening lines are:
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The king sits in Dumfermline town. Drinking the blude-red wine: O 'O whare will I get a skeely skipper, To sail this new ship of mine?' |
As this is an old Scottish ballad, you have to realise that blood is written and pronounced as blude, where becomes whare and skilful becomes skeely A skipper is a captain of a ship
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13887 Location: UK
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#6 (permalink) Tue Jun 06, 2006 14:40 pm Simile into metaphor: |
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Thank you Mr. Micawber and Sir Alan (for constantly bearing with me :D )
Last question: Can the given sentence be called a metaphor?
"Her cheeks are blood red."
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#7 (permalink) Thu Jun 08, 2006 18:48 pm Simile into metaphor: |
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Dear Amy
What do you think about my question? Would you discuss the burden of the topic a bit? I would love to know your opinions about the same.
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#8 (permalink) Thu Jun 08, 2006 20:01 pm Simile into metaphor: |
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Hi Tom
I agree with Mr. Micawber's statements about your original question.
Some things just don't work well as metaphors. But I think it's also possible that, given exactly the right context, you can probably say things that would otherwise (out of context) just sound weird.
"Her cheeks are blood red"[/i] isn't a metaphor in my opinion, it's simply a description of the color or her cheeks.
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#9 (permalink) Thu Jun 08, 2006 20:54 pm Blood red |
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Hi Amy,
Surely the simile her cheeks are as red as blood becomes metaphorical when you say her cheeks are blood red? Or am I out of order?
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13887 Location: UK
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#10 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:31 am Simile into metaphor: |
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Hi Alan
Let me ask you a question. What do you consider the difference between metaphor and metaphoric to be (other than the obvious noun/adjective difference)? And aren't similes a little different from metaphors?
Tom's question was whether Her cheeks are blood red is a metaphor or not. And I just couldn't see the answer to that question as yes. Particularly in light of the other examples he gave.
But, then again, maybe I'm out of order. :lol:
Tom's sentence could also have been reworded as Her cheeks are the same color as blood. In my book, that's not a metaphor. Is that a simile? I guess so. 8)
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#11 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:04 am Simile into metaphor: |
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| As for me,I don't see any metaphorical sense here.It may be considered rather a simile than a metaphor.By the way,it occurred to me that it would be better to create a columh dealing with stylistics and stylistic analysis :D What's your opinion?I think it would be very useful! |
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Pamela I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1271 Location: RF
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#12 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:04 am Simile/metaphor |
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Hi,
Without wishing to flog a dead horse (now there's a metaphor) to me a metaphor is a non-literal use of a word and that's how I see this wrteched woman and her cheeks. It's like the old king drinking his blude-red wine.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13887 Location: UK
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#13 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:26 am Simile into metaphor: |
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Hi Alan
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| ...this wretched woman and her cheeks |
Now there's something I agree with. :D
Also not wishing to flog a dead horse, but nonetheless not being able to resist, here's something I found (from The Black Adder): "This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you've got a moment, it's a twelve-story crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour porterage and an enormous sign on the roof saying 'This Is a Large Crisis.'"
Now, is that a metaphor or a simile? :lol:
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#14 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:29 am Metaphor |
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Hi Amy,
Now that's a metaphor to die for! Just think of the learning opportunities the whole of Blackadder would provide. Now I have a plan. A cunning plan .....
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Prepositions |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13887 Location: UK
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#15 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:49 am Simile into metaphor: |
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Hi Amy and Alan
So "I could not see the wood for trees."
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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| Stuck with a poem: What do SEE and NO WONDER mean in here? | Meaning of TAKE INTO ACCOUNT and ACCOUNTABLE FOR |