Books or Articles
Book: Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools For Teaching Any Subject
Wormeli, Rick. Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching Any Subject
Abstraction almost always requires explanation...
Conversely, abstractions almost require comparisons; if we don’t know what “it” is, we must search for similarities to guide our mental recognition. - Wormeli, Rick. Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching Any Subject
The Big Book of ACT Metaphors
The accelerator in that process was metaphor Through metaphor, we could take an existing network of knowledge, the vehicle, and bring it to bear on a new domain, the target.
Book: Metaphors Be With You
An idea is a feat of association, and the height of it is a good metaphor.
Metaphor is the energy charge that leaps between images, revealing their connections.
Effective metaphor does more than shed light on the two things being compared. It actually brings to the mind’s eye something that has never before been seen. It’s not just the marriage ceremony linking two things; it’s the child born from the union.
I love metaphor. It provides two loaves where there seems to be one. Sometimes it throws in a load of fish.
The essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another.
Book: Metaphors We live By
[Metaphors influence our perception of a concept]
Imagine a culture where an argument is viewed as a dance, the participants are seen as performers, and the goal is to perform in a balanced and aesthetically pleasing way. This is an example of what it means for a metaphorical concept, namely, ARGUMENT IS WAR, to structure (at least in part) what we do and how we understand what we are doing when we argue.
Article: Metaphor Examples: Understanding Meaning and Purpose - Source
Metaphors are figures of speech that are not true in a literal way. They're not lies or errors, though, because metaphors are not intended to be interpreted literally. They are a type of figurative language intended to convey a different meaning than the literal denotative meaning of the word or phrases used. They are used in creative writing like poems and novels, as well as other types of writing, speeches and ordinary conversations.
Metaphors are used in communication to help illustrate or explain something by comparing it to something else. Metaphors serve several functions:
help people vividly visualize unfamiliar concepts
explain unfamiliar situations meaningfully
add variety and interest to a person's writing or conversations
create strong images and leave lasting impressions
pair the intangible with the literal
impact readers and audience members
Metaphors About Emotions: Metaphors can be useful in expressing the extent or type of feelings a person is experiencing.
His words cut deeper than a knife. Words don't materialize into sharp objects. In this metaphor, someone has said something hurtful to another.
I feel the stench of failure coming on. Failure isn't fun but it doesn't smell. So, when this metaphor is used, it means one of life's disappointments is on the way.
I'm drowning in a sea of grief. Here, grief is so overwhelming that the person feels helpless, like they're being pulled underwater.
I'm feeling blue. Until we become like the little girl in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, none of us are likely to turn as blue as a blueberry. This metaphor means someone is sad.
She's going through a rollercoaster of emotions. Our emotions can't take a ride on a rollercoaster. This metaphor simply means the person's going through a lot of different moods.
Metaphors Describing Behavior
Metaphors are often used to describe behavior.
I think he's about to fade off to sleep. Fortunately, none of us fade into thin air when we fall asleep. This expression simply means that someone has drifted into a state of slumber.
He really flared up my temper. When someone flares up your temper, flames don't spew out of your body, you're just deeply angry.****
He reeks of infidelity. When this is said about a cheating partner, it doesn't mean there's an actual odor. This metaphor is saying it's obvious the person is a liar and a cheat.
She was fishing for compliments. The woman isn't literally casting a lure to hook compliments out of the ocean. Rather, it's a dead metaphor used to signify a desire for accolades.
She has such a bubbly personality. No one's personality can bubble up like a glass of champagne. This metaphor is used to signify someone who's especially cheerful.
Just as there are many ways to paint metaphorical pictures, there are many different types of metaphors. Popular forms include.
Absolute Metaphors - These metaphors compare two things that have no obvious connection in order to make a striking point. For example, "She's walking a tightrope with her grades this semester."
Dead Metaphors - Like clichés, these metaphors have lost their punch through over-usage. Discover examples of dead metaphors.
Extended Metaphors - These are lengthy metaphors intended to create deep comparisons. Review a selection of extended metaphor examples.
Implied Metaphors - These metaphors compare two things without using specific terms. There are many examples of implied metaphors.
Mixed Metaphors - These metaphors jumble comparisons together, often without any logic. For example, "In the heat of the moment, she turned to ice and danced to the beat of her own drum."
Root Metaphors - These metaphors are so rooted in everyday language and assumptions, we hardly even recognize them as metaphors. The phrase "Life is a journey" is an example.
Article: Using Metaphors, Analogies and Similes as Aids in Teaching Pathology to Medical Students Source
Well chosen metaphors provide a connection to that which the students already knows, and offers order to the chaos of the new language and unfamiliar concepts. Perceived order enhances learning.
Aristotle compared metaphors to puzzles, and as puzzles, metaphors engage us in solving how one thing is like another. It is this engagement in the process of resolution that makes the use of metaphors so valuable in conveying and understanding complex concepts.
When students develop their own metaphors for new concepts (providing they have a fairly good understanding of the concept), they further strengthen their understandings because they are (a) negotiating the appropriateness of the metaphor they are working with, and (b) arranging their understandings in personally meaningful ways.