extended metaphor

[ ik-sten-did met-uh-fawr ]

noun

1. a metaphor introduced and then further developed throughout all or part of a literary work, especially a poem:

   Robert Frost uses two roads as an extended metaphor in “The Road Not Taken.”

2. a literary work that contains an extended metaphor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of extended metaphor¹

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

As to “Buffy” itself, vamps and demons and the occasional tragic death of a beloved character aside, the series, which debuted in 1997 and changed the nature of television teenage storytelling, is at heart a comedy, an extended metaphor for the ordinary horrors of high school.

From Los Angeles Times

As the plot swings between slightly overbearing teen angst and extrapolations into quantum physics — itself an extended metaphor for the angst-inducing, open-ended possibilities of adolescence — the art in-jokes feel like a concession to adult aesthetes.

From New York Times

Time for an extended metaphor about Ted's southern youth.

From Salon

Time for an extended metaphor about Ted's southern youth.

From Salon

He has turned his inspirational story into an extended metaphor for racial progress and collective triumph over adversity.

From Washington Post

More About Extended Metaphor

What does extended metaphor mean?

An extended metaphor is a metaphor in a literary work, such as a novel or poem, that isn’t just used in one line but is extended over multiple lines or throughout the work.

A metaphor is the applying of a word or phrase to something that’s not literally related in order to suggest a resemblance, as in She’s a walking dictionary (she’s not literally a dictionary, but her vocabulary resembles one).

Extended metaphors use this kind of comparison, but in a drawn-out and often complex way. When an author uses an extended metaphor, they will keep adding to it, developing it, or making reference to it. This can occur over more than one line, over multiple paragraphs, or even over the course of the entire work.

Extended metaphors are especially found in poetry and novels, but they can also be used in song lyrics, movies, speeches, and even nonfiction—anywhere metaphors are used.

Why is extended metaphor important?

The word metaphor comes from the Greek metaphorá, meaning “a transfer.” A metaphor transfers meaning from the thing it represents (what it really means) to the things that represent it—comparisons or symbols. After a metaphor is established, it can be extended—continued, prolonged, stretched out—by drawing further comparisons or making additional connections.

Shakespeare did this all the time. In Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 2, Romeo admires Juliet on her balcony: “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” Shakespeare establishes the metaphor by comparing Juliet to the sun. But then he keeps it going, making reference to the moon, stars, and daylight, saying that the “light” that Juliet gives off is so bright that birds would start singing even at night because they think it’s the dawn.

This is a somewhat simple example. Some extended metaphors continue throughout the entire length of a poem or novel, adding elements and increasing in complexity. It takes skill to create a successful extended metaphor, but it’s worth it. Extended metaphors are extremely useful for revealing things about the characters, the theme of the work, or other elements of the story—often in a very memorable way.

Did you know ... ?

An extended metaphor is sometimes called a conceit, especially in poetry.

What are real-life examples of extended metaphors?

The possibilities for creating metaphors and extended metaphors are endless, and they can be used to express an unlimited amount of ideas.

Clint has a flair for extended metaphor (as befits a poet) & some of them are like long jokes, to which the punchlines don't disappoint. Except that, unlike jokes, the run-up to the rim shot is not tedious. His prose is limpid, unselfconscious, quietly, unobtrusively beautiful.

— Iona Italia, PhD (@IonaItalia) May 9, 2020

Without spoiling anything, this week’s @theshadowsfx centers on Colin Robinson as an energy vampire and works as an extended metaphor for Twitter.

— Matthew Stinson (@stinson) May 8, 2020

 

What other words are related to extended metaphor?

• metaphor
• literary device
• figurative language
• figure of speech
• literature
• poetry
• parable
• analogy
• symbolism

Quiz yourself!

Which of the following entries is the best example of an extended metaphor?

A. Her eyes were like the sun.
B. There is an army of children in that house.
C. Life is a rodeo. You’ve got no choice but to get on and ride. And the ground is always waiting for you at the end of it all.
D. She was a ticking time bomb. Anything could make her lose her temper.