Metaphor

We spoke today at length about metaphor in the context of Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers. A metaphor is a literary device which uses one object or idea to define another. Metaphors can be a powerful way to describe or understand complex ideas. We discussed Petit's walk as a metaphor for the finer qualities of the human spirit.

This is an extended metaphor, something that we use to grapple with really big ideas. Simple metaphors we use all the time. Here are a few examples.

1. It's freezing here in La Ceiba. My arm is a popsicle.
2. Don't talk to her, she's looking for a fight. Her blood is boiling.
3. Love is every bright sunrise of you life happening at the same time.

...Here's a famous one:

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have there exits and their entrances;