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Extended Metaphor

Extended Metaphor Definition

What is an extended metaphor? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

An extended metaphor is a metaphor that unfolds across multiple lines or even paragraphs of a text, making use of multiple interrelated metaphors within an overarching one. So while "life is a highway" is a simple metaphor, it becomes an extended metaphor when you say: "Life is a highway that takes us through green pastures, vast deserts, and rocky mountains. Sometimes your car breaks down or you run out of gas, and sometimes you get lost. Friends are the roadmaps that help you get where you're going." Now you've spread the idea of "life = highway" across multiple sentences and related ideas, and created an extended metaphor.

Some additional key details about extended metaphors:

• Extended metaphors are distinguished from regular metaphors by their complexity (or how many different metaphors they contain) as well as their length. Extended metaphors can span an entire story or poem, or just a few clauses of the same sentence.
• As in a regular metaphor, the comparisons created in an extended metaphor are not meant to be taken literally. For instance, nobody is suggesting that life is literally a highway when they use that common metaphor. Rather, extended metaphors are figurative —they create meaning beyond the literal meanings of their words.
• The terms "conceit" and "extended metaphor" can be used interchangeably, though "conceit" is also sometimes used in an even more specialized way than "extended metaphor" is.

Extended Metaphor Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce extended metaphor: ex- tend -id met -uh-fore

Extended Metaphors in Depth

All metaphors can be broken down into two elements: a tenor and a vehicle.

• The tenor is the thing a metaphor describes.
• The vehicle is the thing to which the tenor is compared.

For instance, in the metaphor " Life is a highway ," life is the tenor because it's the thing being described, while "highway" is the vehicle because it's the thing life is being compared to. The metaphor operates by borrowing key attributes from the vehicle and attributing them to the tenor. The "Life is a highway" metaphor takes the attributes of a highway—including its association with journeys, adventures, speed, and the fact that we all travel them side-by-side—and connects them to life.

The Structure of Extended Metaphors

Extended metaphors have a main tenor and vehicle that make up the overarching or primary metaphor, but they also make use of other tenors and vehicles as the metaphor becomes more elaborate. Let's continue to use the example from above:

Life is a highway that takes us through green pastures, vast deserts, and rocky mountains. Sometimes your car breaks down or you run out of gas, and sometimes you get lost. Friends are the roadmaps that help you get where you're going.

Within the overarching metaphor of "life is a highway," several other metaphors make up the extended metaphor, and each one has its own tenor and vehicle : the various stages of life are like the varied landscapes of a large country; the challenges of life are like car troubles ; friends are like road maps .

Extended Metaphor and Related Terms

People often use the term extended metaphor to refer to things that aren't actually extended metaphors. Here are a couple things that people often—and understandably—confuse for extended metaphors:

• Recurring metaphors: An extended metaphor is not just a single metaphor that repeats throughout a text. For instance, in Shakespeare's Othello , the image of a monster is used several times throughout the book as a metaphor for jealousy. The repeated use of the same metaphor in multiple places throughout a text does not make it an example of an extended metaphor; an extended metaphor must contain different tenors and vehicles, that together fit into the metaphor of the overarching tenor and vehicle.
• Symbolism: Symbolism is a literary device in which a writer uses one thing—usually a physical object or phenomenon—to represent something more abstract. A famous example of a symbol in literature occurs in To Kill a Mockingbird , when Atticus tells his children Jem and Scout that it's a sin to kill a mockingbird because mockingbirds cause no harm to anyone; they just sing. Because of these traits, mockingbirds in the novel symbolize innocence and beauty, while killing a mockingbird symbolizes an act of senseless cruelty. Although it might seem like this constitutes an extended metaphor, it doesn't. The main reason is that the story about the mockingbird is supposed to be literally true—it's not a figurative use of language to illustrate or describe something else. Furthermore, in stories that use symbolism, writers don't clearly state what a symbol represents, whereas in metaphor they typically do, making it clear that the use of language is actually figurative.
• Allegories: An allegory is a story in which essentially every character and event have symbolic meanings. The main difference between an allegory and an extended metaphor is that, in allegories, writers don't clearly state what each character or event represents, whereas in a metaphor they typically would, making it clear that the use of language is figurative. Also, metaphors state or imply that one thing is another thing, while in allegories (as with symbolism more generally), one thing might stand for another thing, but it isn't said to actually be that other thing.

Extended Metaphor and Conceit

Conceit is a term that is similar to extended metaphor. In fact, conceit is often used as a synonym for metaphor—and to use it in that way is perfectly correct. However, conceit also has another, slightly more complicated definition. Here's a quick run-down of the two different ways the terms can be used:

• Conceit can be a synonym for extended metaphor: Most often, conceit is used interchangeably with extended metaphor to describe any metaphor or analogy that spans a longer passage in a work of literature.
• Conceit can refer to a particularly fanciful or even strained extended metaphor: However, for some people (and literary critics in particular) the word conceit carries the connotation of a fanciful or elaborate extended metaphor in which an unlikely, far-fetched, or strained comparison is made between two things. The term is most often used to refer to such metaphors in Renaissance literature and the poetry of the 17th century (such as "metaphysical poetry"). To learn more about this definition, take a look at our entry on conceit .

Extended Metaphor Examples

The following examples of extended metaphors are taken from literature, music, and speeches, showing just how prevalent extended metaphors are in all sorts of writing.

Extended Metaphor in Frost's "The Road Not Taken"

Robert Frost's famous poem is an example of an extended metaphor in which the tenor (or the thing being spoken about) is never stated explicitly—but it's clear that the poet is using the road less traveled as a metaphor for leading an unconventional way of life. The entire poem, then, is an extended metaphor.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Extended Metaphor in As You Like It

This passage, spoken by the character Jaques in Shakespeare's As You Like It , has become rather famous for its initial metaphor of "All the world's a stage." But not as many people know that the famous line is just the beginning of an extended metaphor, which contains several metaphors within it, using the language of scenes, actors, and parts. Over all, the lines develop an extended metaphor of remarkable breadth.

JAQUES: All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.... ...Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

To analyze just one part of this extended metaphor, in the final sentence Jaques speaks of the "last scene of all," referencing death—when each of us "plays the part" of someone who has regressed to a childlike state, having lost everything: teeth, vision, taste, and, finally, life.

Extended Metaphor in Romeo and Juliet

Romeo delivers this monologue in Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , after sneaking into Juliet's garden and catching a glimpse of her on her balcony. Romeo compares Juliet to a radiant sun, and then extends the metaphor by entreating her to "kill the envious moon."

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.

The moon is used here as a symbol of virginity, so when Romeo states that Juliet is the moon's maid, he means that she's still a virgin, and when he entreats her to "kill the moon" and "cast off" its vestal livery (a garment worn by virgins), he's suggesting that she should part with her virginity. The metaphor of the sun (Juliet) killing the moon (her virginity) works because the sun can be said to "kill the moon" each day—in the sense that its bright light drowns out the light of the moon in the sky, making it invisible.

Extended Metaphor in Katy Perry's "Firework"

In "Firework," Perry uses an extended metaphor to compare a firework to an inner "spark" of resilience which, in the context of the song, stands in opposition to the dreary experience of life and the difficulty of communicating with others. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics that captures the extended metaphor in action:

Do you know that there's still a chance for you? 'Cause there's a spark in you You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July 'Cause baby, you're a firework C'mon, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky Baby, you're a firework C'mon, let your colors burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave them all in awe, awe, awe

Extended Metaphor in Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech

The following quote from Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech is a clear example of extended metaphor, as MLK builds upon the initial metaphor of "cashing a check" in each successive sentence:

In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

Why Do Writers Use Extended Metaphors?

Writers use extended metaphors for many of the same reasons they use metaphors in general:

• To explain or describe an abstract concept in vivid and memorable terms.
• To help the reader make a new, insightful connection between two different entities that might not have seemed related.
• To help communicate personal or imaginary experiences in terms to which readers can relate.
• To lead the reader to surprising and important discoveries by connecting different spheres of experience and language. The figurative meaning that metaphors create can help a reader to see the world or a concept in a new way.

Other Helpful Extended Metaphor Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Extended Metaphor : An in-depth explanation of metaphor, its history, and how it relates to other figures of speech.
• The Dictionary Definition of Metaphor : A basic definition and etymology of the term—it comes from the Greek metaphora, meaning "a transfer."
• Extended Metaphors on YouTube : A video of Jaques' famous "seven ages" monologue, as delivered by Kevin Kline, in Kenneth Branagh's As You Like It .
• The Road Not Taken aloud : Audio of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken."

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Extended Metaphor

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An extended metaphor is a literary device that extends a metaphorical comparison throughout a piece of writing, weaving it into the narrative, poem, or speech. Unlike a simple metaphor that draws a quick comparison, an extended metaphor continues to link two ideas, adding depth and dimension to the work. This artistic tool paints a vivid picture and builds a cohesive theme, allowing the writer to explore complex emotions or abstract concepts in an accessible way.

What is an Extended Metaphor?

An extended metaphor is a metaphor that unfolds across multiple lines, sentences, or even an entire work. It is a literary device used to draw a comparison between two unlike things, but instead of being a brief analogy, it continues throughout the piece. By developing the metaphor example over an extended passage, the writer can provide a multi-layered illustration that deepens the reader’s understanding and emotional engagement with the subject.

What is the Best Example of Extended Metaphor?

One of the most celebrated examples of an extended metaphor is found in William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet.” In Act 2, Scene 2, the famous balcony scene, Juliet employs an extended metaphor comparing Romeo to a rose. She says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet extends this metaphor example in romeo and juliet , contemplating the nature of identity and love beyond mere names. This eloquent use of an extended metaphor has made it one of the most quoted and analyzed metaphor examples in English literature.

100 Extended Metaphor Examples

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1. Life as a Journey: A common metaphor where life’s stages are likened to stops along a trip. 2. The Ship of State: Comparing a country’s governance to the steering of a ship. 3. Time as a River: Describing time’s constant and unchangeable flow. 4. Mind as a Garden: Cultivating thoughts like plants in a garden. 5. Education as Construction: Building knowledge in stages, like a structure. 6. A Business as a Machine: Describing a business where all parts must function together. 7. Human Emotions as Weather: Describing feelings as sunny, stormy, etc. 8. War as a Game: The strategies and tactics likened to a chess game. 9. Love as a Battlefield: Conveying love as an ongoing struggle or conflict. 10. The Internet as an Information Superhighway: Linking information like roads and highways. 11. A Book as a Portal: Opening doors to new worlds or experiences. 12. The Heart as a Pump: Comparing the heart’s function to a mechanical pump. 13. The Mind as a Computer: Likening human cognition to computer processing. 14. Society as a Body: Different societal segments as body parts. 15. The Family as a Tree: Branching family connections from common roots. 16. Life as a Theatre: Life’s events as acts and scenes on a stage. 17. Consciousness as Light: Brightness and darkness symbolizing awareness and ignorance. 18. The Soul as a Fortress: Inner strength and integrity depicted as impenetrable walls. 19. Relationships as a Dance: Graceful, awkward, or dynamic movements mirroring relational dynamics. 20. Ideas as Seeds: Ideas growing and bearing fruit like seeds in soil. 21. Community as a Quilt: Different people and parts woven together. 22. Faith as a Mustard Seed: Small beginnings growing into substantial belief. 23. A Country as a Melting Pot: Different cultures blending together. 24. Grief as an Ocean: Overwhelming sorrow depicted as an endless, deep sea. 25. Life as a Tapestry: Interwoven events creating a full picture. 26. Democracy as a Ship: Navigating the complex waters of governance. 27. Wisdom as Light: Illuminating the path of understanding. 28. Youth as Springtime: New beginnings, freshness, and growth. 29. Knowledge as a Building: Constructing understanding layer by layer. 30. Aging as Autumn: The winding down and preparation for life’s winter. 31. A Novel as a Friend: Providing companionship, empathy, and understanding. 32. Death as Sleep: The peaceful transition from life. 33. Career as a Ladder: Climbing rungs representing advancement. 34. The Earth as a Mother: Nurturing and providing for its inhabitants. 35. Science as a Torch: Lighting the way to discovery. 36. Fear as a Monster: An overpowering, terrifying force. 37. Justice as Scales: Weighing evidence and rendering fair decisions. 38. Memory as a Library: Storing thoughts and experiences like books on shelves. 39. Progress as a Climb: A difficult ascent symbolizing struggle and achievement. 40. Peace as a River: Flowing smoothly and bringing life. 41. Education as a Key: Opening doors to opportunity. 42. A Child’s Mind as a Sponge: Absorbing knowledge effortlessly. 43. The Universe as a Symphony: Cosmic harmony and orchestrated movement. 44. A Team as a Well-oiled Machine: Coordination and efficiency in action. 45. Poverty as a Prison: Trapping individuals in a cycle of despair. 46. Equality as a Level Playing Field: Fair competition without advantage or hindrance. 47. Success as a Mountain Summit: The pinnacle of achievement after a hard climb. 48. Opportunity as a Door: An entry point to something new and promising. 49. Challenge as a Puzzle: A complex problem needing solving. 50. Creativity as a Fountain: A constant flow of fresh ideas and inspiration. 51. Language as a Bridge: Connecting cultures, individuals, and ideas. 52. Hope as a Beacon: Guiding through darkness and uncertainty. 53. Lies as Webs: Intricate, tangled, and trapping. 54. Argument as War: The adversarial clash of opinions and positions. 55. Technology as a Double-edged Sword: Offering both benefits and risks. 56. Courage as Armor: Protection against fear and doubt. 57. Words as Weapons: Cutting, defending, or attacking with language. 58. History as a Teacher: Offering lessons from the past. 59. The Market as an Ocean: Waves, currents, and unpredictable movements of economy. 60. Civilization as a Building: Constructing and maintaining social structures. 61. Global Economy as a Web: Interconnected and dependent on various strands. 62. Cities as Organisms: Growing, adapting, living, and sometimes dying. 63. Art as a Mirror: Reflecting society and individual experiences. 64. Emotions as Colors: Painting feelings with shades and hues. 65. Innocence as a White Dove: Pure, gentle, and untainted. 66. The Brain as an Orchestra: Different parts playing in harmony. 67. Reality as a Film: Viewing life through different lenses. 68. Freedom as a Bird: Soaring without restraint or confinement. 69. Humanity as a Body: Working together or suffering together. 70. Literature as a Window: Glimpses into different worlds and minds. 71. Culture as an Iceberg: Visible aspects with much hidden beneath. 72. Nations as Neighbors: Interaction, disputes, and common boundaries. 73. Dreams as Stars: Guiding lights or distant, untouchable goals. 74. Destiny as a Path: A predetermined route through life. 75. Tradition as a Chain: Linking generations and preserving values. 76. Ethics as Compass: Guiding moral decisions and behavior. 77. A Company as a Family: Interconnected relationships working toward common goals. 78. Economy as a Balloon: Inflating, deflating, and sensitive to conditions. 79. Marriage as a Partnership: Shared responsibilities and mutual support. 80. Addiction as a Pit: Difficult to escape and potentially destructive. 81. Character as a Diamond: Formed under pressure, hard, and valuable. 82. Suffering as a Furnace: Refining and purifying through hardship. 83. Leadership as a Shepherd: Guiding, protecting, and nurturing followers. 84. Reputation as a Shadow: Following, reflecting, and sometimes distorting. 85. Growth as Sunrise : A gradual increase or improvement. 86. Ideas as Flames: Spreading, warming, and sometimes consuming. 87. Work as Worship: Dedication and reverence in one’s profession. 88. Politics as Theater: Playing roles, scripting speeches, and performing for an audience. 89. Faith as a Shield: Protection against doubts and fears. 90. Beauty as a Flower: Fragile, appealing, and sometimes fleeting. 91. The Human Body as a Temple: Sacred and to be cared for. 92. Truth as a Light: Dispelling darkness and revealing reality. 93. Friendship as a Treasure: Valuable, rare, and to be cherished. 94. Music as a Universal Language: Speaking to all across cultural barriers. 95. Loss as a Void: An emptiness that can’t be filled. 96. Anger as Fire: Burning, destructive, but also purifying. 97. Patience as a Tree: Slow-growing, sturdy, and long-lasting. 98. Love as Water: Essential, nourishing, and taking many forms. 99. Change as Seasons: Natural, cyclical, and often expected. 100. Wisdom as a Tree: Deep-rooted, expansive, and providing shelter.

Extended metaphors are potent tools in literature and rhetoric, allowing complex ideas to be conveyed with creativity and depth. These examples represent various themes and subjects, illustrating the richness of metaphorical language.

Extended Metaphor Sentence Examples

• The office was a jungle, complete with its lions, snakes, and occasional tree to hide beneath: Here, a typical work environment is likened to the wild unpredictability of a jungle, illustrating various office personalities and dynamics.My heart’s engine roared to life, igniting every piston with fiery passion: This portrays the heart’s emotional responses as the workings of a mechanical engine.
• His thoughts were a never-ending labyrinth, always leading him to the same dead ends: The intricacies of the mind are compared to a maze, signifying confusion.
• Our relationship was a delicate dance, each step either in harmony or a dangerous misstep: This denotes the complexities and balance in a relationship.
• Childhood is an open field, slowly being filled with experiences and memories: Childhood’s vast potential is likened to a field awaiting cultivation.
• Life in the city was like an ever-spinning carousel, dizzying and full of ups and downs: The constant motion of urban life is portrayed as a carousel ride.
• Her voice was a soothing river, flowing with stories and lullabies from days long past: The voice’s calming nature is compared to the gentle flow of a river.
• Their friendship was like a sturdy bridge that weathered every storm and weight it bore: This highlights the strength and durability of a bond.
• The night was a thick book, filled with tales of stars and distant galaxies: Night’s mysteries are likened to a book of celestial stories.
• His ambitions were a towering skyscraper, reaching for the skies but with a risk of toppling: The height and potential dangers of unbridled ambition are portrayed.

Extended metaphor sentence examples are where a metaphor is extended throughout the entire sentence, or even a whole paragraph or passage. These metaphors help to draw a more in-depth comparison between two unlike things. For instance, comparing life to a journey or the human mind to a labyrinth. Extended metaphors can create powerful imagery and make abstract concepts more tangible and relatable.

Extended Metaphor About Life Examples

• Life is a tape measure, marking milestones and significant moments along its length: Life’s phases are compared to measurements on a tape.
• Life is an unpredictable ocean, with calm waves and tempestuous storms: The highs and lows of life are likened to oceanic conditions.
• Life is a train journey, with stations of joy, sorrow, and inevitable goodbyes: Life’s events are likened to train stops.
• Life is a mosaic, where every piece, no matter how broken, contributes to its beauty: The value of all life experiences, good or bad, is highlighted.
• Life is a marathon, not a sprint; the value lies in enduring, not just running: Persistence and long-term vision in life are emphasized.
• Life is a classroom, and every challenge is a lesson to be learned: Life’s challenges are seen as educational moments.
• Life is a novel, and every day writes a new page, whether of mystery, romance, or tragedy: The unpredictability and variety of life are showcased.
• Life is a bakery, filled with sweet moments and occasional burnt cookies: Pleasant and unfavorable experiences in life are highlighted.
• Life is a canvas, and our actions and choices are the strokes of paint: The idea that we shape and color our own lives is depicted.
• Life is a mountain, offering valleys of rest and peaks of triumph: Life’s ups and downs, challenges, and moments of reprieve are described.

Life offers endless experiences and emotions, and extended metaphors about life are a poetic way to describe the intricate and multi-layered aspects of existence. Comparing life to diverse things like a marathon, a mosaic, a bakery, or an ocean can unveil profound insights. Extended Life metaphors often serve as philosophical reflections, highlighting the essential lessons and values.

Extended Metaphor in Movies Examples

• “The Matrix” – life as a simulated reality, where the truth is hidden beneath layers of deception: This film uses the metaphor of a digital simulation to question reality.
• “Inception” – the mind as a multi-layered maze, where dreams blend with reality: The complexities of the subconscious are explored through dream levels.
• “The Lion King” – the circle of life, where every end leads to a new beginning: The natural flow and cycle of life are portrayed in Simba’s journey.
• “The Shawshank Redemption” – prison as a state of mind, and freedom as a state of being: The physical and mental aspects of captivity and liberation are explored.
• “Avatar” – the planet Pandora as a living, breathing entity interconnected with its inhabitants: The deep connection between nature and living beings is emphasized.
• “Wall-E” – Earth as a wasteland, depicting the consequences of unchecked consumerism: The movie serves as a warning about environmental neglect.
• “Up” – the house with balloons as a symbol of dreams, memories, and letting go: Personal attachments and the journey to move on are depicted.
• “Frozen” – Elsa’s powers as a metaphor for suppressed emotions and self-acceptance: Embracing one’s true self and managing emotions are key themes.
• “Inside Out” – the mind as a control center, manned by emotions: The intricate workings of emotions and their influence are depicted.
• “Moby Dick” (adapted from the novel) – the white whale as an obsession that can lead to ruin: The dangers of unchecked ambition and revenge are illustrated.

Movies frequently use extended metaphors to deepen themes, build characters, and create a more vivid cinematic universe. These metaphors for movies can range from symbolic objects or characters to entire plot structures that mirror real-world issues. By doing so, filmmakers are able to communicate complex ideas in an accessible and engaging way.

Short Extended Metaphor Examples

• My days became a bakery, always rising before the sun to create something fresh: The routine of early mornings and creation is likened to a baker’s life.
• Her words were a garden, always blooming with vibrant tales: The beauty and growth of her words are emphasized.
• Our love is a duet, always in tune, even when improvising: A harmonious relationship is described through music.
• Your mind is a treasure chest, filled with gems of ideas: Valuable thoughts and insights are highlighted.
• This town is a sleepy cat, basking in the afternoon sun: A laid-back, leisurely town is portrayed.
• The car’s engine was a grumbling bear, aching for some rest: Mechanical issues and noises likened to an animal’s growl.
• His career was a roller coaster, filled with thrilling highs and terrifying drops: A career’s unpredictability and excitement are depicted.
• The forest was a hidden palace of nature’s jewels, waiting to be explored: The beauty and mysteries of nature are likened to royal treasures.
• Her laugh was a merry carousel, infectious and full of joy: A lively and contagious laughter is illustrated.
• He was a weathered ship, still sailing despite the storms of time: Resilience and continued pursuit, despite age, are emphasized.

Short extended easy metaphors are concise yet profound comparisons that convey larger truths or themes. Even in a single sentence or a brief phrase, these metaphors can encapsulate complex ideas, emotions, or observations. By likening one thing to another—such as love to a duet or a town to a sleepy cat—a short extended metaphor can paint a vivid picture or evoke strong feelings.

Extended Metaphor in Literature

• “Animal Farm” by George Orwell – the farm as a microcosm of a corrupt political system: The novel illustrates the flaws of totalitarianism.
• “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling – Hogwarts as a sanctuary, a place of growth and self-discovery: The magical school represents personal development.
• “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo – society as a dark maze where the downtrodden are lost: Society’s failures and injustices are portrayed.
• “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger – Holden’s red hunting hat as a symbol of his uniqueness: Themes of isolation and self-discovery are highlighted.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee – the mockingbird as a symbol of innocence: Moral conscience and loss of innocence are central themes.
• “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville – the white whale as an obsession: Obsession and self-destruction are explored.
• “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald – the green light as a symbol of unattainable dreams: The illusion of the American Dream is portrayed.
• “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte – the red room as a symbol of oppression: Themes of confinement, rebellion, and growth are developed.
• “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding – the island as a symbol of human society: The inherent evil in human nature is depicted.
• “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – the Buendía family as a symbol of Latin America’s history: Time, solitude, and magical realism are explored.

Literature often utilizes extended metaphors to weave deeper meaning, symbolism, and thematic resonance within a story. Classic and modern works alike employ these metaphors as a means to explore societal issues, human nature, relationships, and more. These extended literature metaphors serve to engage readers, prompting them to think beyond the surface of the narrative.

Extended Metaphor in Poems

• “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – the diverging roads as choices in life: Decisions, paths, and reflections on life are explored.
• “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley – the ruined statue as the impermanence of power: The transient nature of power and the ravages of time are depicted.
• “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold – the tide as a metaphor for the ebbing faith in a tumultuous world: A sense of loss, despair, and longing for stability is conveyed.
• “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare – the summer’s day as a comparison to the beloved’s beauty: The timelessness of love and beauty is celebrated.
• “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth – daffodils as a symbol of solitude and joy: Reflections on nature, joy, and the human connection are presented.
• “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot – the barren land as a symbol of cultural disillusionment: Desolation, fragmentation, and the search for redemption are depicted.
• “Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson – hope as a bird that perches in the soul: The resilient nature of hope and its comforting presence are described.
• “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost – the wall as a metaphor for boundaries and human separation: Barriers, relationships, and the paradox of isolation are explored.
• “A Poison Tree” by William Blake – the growing poison tree as a metaphor for anger and vengeance: The destructive nature of unchecked emotions and resentment is depicted.
• “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou – rising above adversity as a symbol of resilience and empowerment: Themes of strength, pride, and defiance against oppression are highlighted.

Poetry frequently embraces extended metaphors in poems as a way to connect with readers on an emotional level. By drawing an extended comparison between two unrelated things, poets can evoke a wide range of feelings, thoughts, and images. Whether it’s the depiction of hope as a bird or the wasteland as a symbol of cultural disillusionment, extended metaphors enrich poetic expression and provoke deeper reflection.

How do you write an Extended Metaphor?

Writing an extended metaphor is an art that requires a bit of practice, creativity, and understanding of the subject matter you are trying to describe. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create your own extended metaphor:

Step 1: Identify Your Core Concept

First, decide what you want to write about. It could be a theme, emotion, character, or a complex idea. Your metaphor will revolve around this core concept.

Step 2: Choose a Metaphorical Subject

Next, select something that can symbolize your core concept. This metaphorical subject should have characteristics or features that you can align with the attributes of your core concept. It may help to brainstorm a list and then choose the most fitting one.

Step 3: Map the Connections

Outline the specific parallels between the core concept and the metaphorical subject. List down how each characteristic or feature of the metaphorical subject relates to the core concept. The more detailed, the better.

Step 4: Build Your Extended Metaphor

Begin to weave these parallels into your writing. You can start with a clear statement of the metaphor and then extend it by using the connections you’ve mapped out. Use vivid and descriptive language to paint a clear picture.

Step 5: Maintain Consistency

An extended metaphor continues throughout a paragraph, stanza, or even an entire work. Be consistent with the metaphorical subject and its characteristics. Don’t mix different metaphors, as it might confuse the reader.

Step 6: Utilize Supporting Imagery

Add details, imagery, and examples that support the metaphor. Describe the metaphorical subject in a way that reinforces the similarities without repeating them unnecessarily.

Step 7: Check for Clarity

Read over your extended metaphor to ensure that the comparison is clear and the connections are logical. If possible, get feedback from someone else to ensure that your metaphor is effective and accessible to others.

Step 8: Revise and Refine

Take the time to revise and polish your extended metaphor. Remove any redundancy, and make sure every element of the metaphor contributes to the overall understanding of the core concept.

Step 9: Consider Tone and Style

Make sure your extended metaphor fits the tone and style of the piece. An extended metaphor in a scholarly article may look different from one in a poem or a novel.

Step 10: Conclude with Impact

If your extended metaphor has a beginning and an end (like in a poem or a specific passage), make sure to conclude it in a way that reinforces the main point and leaves a lasting impression.

If you were to write an extended metaphor about life being a journey, you might compare the different stages of life to parts of a trip, hardships to obstacles on the road, achievements to milestones, and so on.

By following these steps, you can create an engaging and thoughtful extended metaphor that adds depth and meaning to your writing. Whether in poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, extended metaphors can bring abstract ideas to life and make your work more resonant and memorable.

What is Extended Metaphor Also known as?

An extended metaphor is also known as a conceit or sustained metaphor. It is a literary device that extends a metaphor over several lines, paragraphs, or even an entire literary work. Unlike a simple implied metaphor , which often compares two unlike things in one concise statement, an extended metaphor continues the comparison throughout the piece, drawing multiple parallels between the subjects and exploring them in greater detail. By doing so, it allows the writer to delve more deeply into the nuances of the comparison, creating a richer and more layered understanding of the subject.

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Extended Metaphor: Definition, Meaning, and Examples in Literature

By Hannah Yang

The extended metaphor is a powerful literary device for exploring complex ideas. We encounter extended metaphors in all forms of writing, from Shakespearean plays to fantasy novels to song lyrics in pop culture.

So what exactly is an extended metaphor, and what purpose does it serve? The short answer is that an extended metaphor is a metaphor that continues throughout multiple sentences, multiple paragraphs, or even an entire poem or story.

In this article, we’ll explain how this literary device works, give you five simple steps for building your own extended metaphor, and show you some famous examples of extended metaphors from literature.

Extended Metaphor Definition and Meaning: What Is It?

What’s the structure of an extended metaphor, when you should and shouldn’t use extended metaphors, how to use an extended metaphor in 5 steps, extended metaphor examples in literature, conclusion on the extended metaphor.

A metaphor is a type of figurative language that describes something using a comparison. Here are some common examples of simple metaphors that you might hear every day:

• “Time is money.”
• “I’m a diamond in the rough.”
• “Laughter is the best medicine.”

An extended metaphor refers to a metaphor that the author explores in more detail than a normal metaphor. It can go on for multiple sentences or paragraphs in a work of prose, or multiple lines or stanzas in a poem.

Sometimes, an extended metaphor can even be referenced repeatedly throughout the course of a story or novel, collecting new meaning as the story progresses.

Here’s a quick example of the difference between a metaphor and an extended metaphor.

• Metaphor: “Her fury was a hammer.”
• Extended metaphor: “Her fury was a hammer. Whenever she got angry, everyone around her looked like a nail. She wished she could wield her anger like a precision tool, but with a hammer there was no room for finesse, only blunt violence. Every time she got in an argument, out came the hammer, striking at not just the person she was arguing with but also her parents, her siblings, and even her pet dog.”

An extended metaphor takes a central comparison and expands it using more specific details.

Usually, an extended metaphor starts with a simple statement equating two things, such as “Her fury was a hammer.” Then, the author weaves in more details to explain what they mean by that comparison. Each detail should add more nuance to the initial statement, helping the reader understand what the author is trying to say.

A well-written extended metaphor can be very powerful, but an unnecessary or convoluted one can make your reader scratch their heads or even stop reading entirely.

So how do you know when you should and shouldn’t use extended metaphors?

The answer is simple: just remember that a good extended metaphor should explain a complex concept in a necessary, interesting, and clear way.

The three keywords in the sentence above are necessary , interesting , and clear . A successful extended metaphor needs to meet all three criteria.

Let’s look at each of these rules in more detail.

Rule 1: Make Sure It’s Necessary

Necessary means that the concept you’re explaining with your extended metaphor is truly important enough to warrant a detailed explanation. If the extended metaphor isn’t essential to the story, it will only waste your readers’ time.

Consider this example of an unnecessary extended metaphor: “My mosquito bites were an open flame, and I was a moth. They burned me every time I scratched them, but I just couldn’t stop.”

This metaphor makes sense, but unless the narrator’s mosquito bites are particularly important to the story, the reader doesn’t need to hear about them in so much detail.

You could just write, “I couldn’t stop scratching my mosquito bites,” and move on, rather than devoting an entire paragraph to explaining how itchy they are.

Rule 2: Make Sure It’s Interesting

Interesting means that the metaphor provides an original, funny, or thought-provoking insight. If your extended metaphor isn’t interesting, it will just bore your readers.

Consider this example of an uninteresting extended metaphor: “Her eyes were a blue ocean. I wanted to swim in them forever.”

This metaphor makes sense—we can all picture the color of the ocean—so the meaning is clear. Unfortunately, it’s not particularly interesting. Blue eyes are often compared to oceans, so this paragraph feels clichéd and unnecessary.

ProWritingAid’s Clichés Report highlights overused expressions in your writing so you can make sure your metaphors are original.

Rule 3: Make Sure It’s Clear

Finally, the third keyword, clear, means that the metaphor helps the reader understand the complex concept better. If your extended metaphor isn’t clear, it will baffle your readers and make them scratch their heads.

Consider this example of an unclear extended metaphor: “Human society is a trash can full of plastic water bottles that have been set on fire. It’s hot, smells bad, and releases a lot of fumes.”

This metaphor is interesting—we’ve certainly never heard the phrase “a trash can full of plastic water bottles that have been set on fire” before—but it isn’t clear.

It doesn’t help us understand human society any better than we did before we read it. If anything, it just made us feel more confused.

Remember those three keywords— necessary , interesting , and clear —and make sure all your extended metaphors fulfill all three. This way‌, your extended metaphors add to your writing, rather than detract from it.

Writing an extended metaphor might feel daunting at first, but you can break it down into simple steps. Here are five steps you can use to build an extended metaphor.

Step 1: Find a Concept You Need to Explain

The purpose of an extended metaphor is to explain a concept more clearly to the reader, so the first step is to identify a complex concept that you need to explain.

Here are some examples of things that you might want to describe using an extended metaphor:

• Abstract emotions (such as grief, anger, joy)
• Philosophical concepts (such as death, justice, human society)
• Characters’ personalities
• Unusual settings, situations, or environments

Step 2: Choose a Concrete Image to Explain That Concept

Now that you know the complex concept you need to explain, it’s time to choose a point of reference to help you describe it to the reader.

Think about concrete images, objects, or references that are already clear in your reader’s mind.

For example, you might come up with the following comparisons to use as your primary metaphor:

• Her grief was a wall she couldn’t cross.
• Justice is a boat sailing through stormy waters.
• My brother has the personality of a cactus.

In each of these cases, an abstract concept (grief, justice, and a character’s personality) is compared to a specific concrete image (a wall, a boat, and a cactus). The concrete images help the reader understand what the author is trying to say about the abstract concept.

Step 3: Check the Comparison Is Necessary, Interesting, and Clear

Remember those three rules we talked about earlier? Now’s the time to make sure your initial metaphor passes all three tests: necessary, interesting, and clear.

If your central comparison is unnecessary, uninteresting, or unclear, it will just bog down your writing. It’s common for amateur writers to include extended metaphors they don’t need as an attempt to sound profound or original.

Step 4: Expand on the Central Comparison

The central comparison on its own is just a normal metaphor. To make it an extended metaphor, you need to extend it over several lines or passages.

This extension often involves smaller metaphors that expound on the primary metaphor. It takes the central comparison and examines the question, “How are these two things alike?” and provides a more detailed and specific answer.

Let’s look at an example from Step 2: “My brother has the personality of a cactus.” How exactly is the brother’s personality similar to a cactus? Maybe he pricks everyone who gets too close because he prefers to be left alone. Or maybe he can survive in harsh conditions, subsisting with barely any sleep, water, or human contact.

Adding these specific details turns a normal metaphor into an extended metaphor.

Step 5: Repeat the Comparison Throughout the Piece

If you want to, you can revisit your extended metaphor multiple times throughout your book , poem , or story . That way, you can create a sustained metaphor that gathers meaning over time.

This final step is optional, but can be extremely powerful if used correctly. Just make sure each new repetition is also necessary, interesting, and clear.

Here are some extended metaphor examples from works of English literature: novels, plays, poetry, and nonfiction.

In each example, see if you can spot the main comparison and the ways the author expands on it throughout the passage.

Example 1: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

“I wait. I compose myself. My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech. What I must present is a made thing, not something born.”

Example 2: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.”

Example 3: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

“But walking along Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn, in his black overcoat and his gray interview suit, Quentin knew he wasn’t happy.

Why not? He had painstakingly assembled all the ingredients of happiness. He had performed all the necessary rituals, spoken the words, lit the candles, made the sacrifices. But happiness, like a disobedient spirit, refused to come. He couldn’t think what else to do.”

Example 4: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

“So you must stay Essun, and Essun will have to make do with the broken bits of herself that Jija has left behind. You’ll jigsaw them together however you can, caulk in the odd bits with willpower wherever they don’t quite fit, ignore the occasional sounds of grinding and cracking. As long as nothing important breaks, right? You’ll get by. You have no choice. Not as long as one of your children could be alive.”

Example 5: On Writing by Stephen King

“I did as she suggested, entering the College of Education at UMO and emerging four years later with a teacher’s certificate… sort of like a golden retriever emerging from a pond with a dead duck in its jaws. It was dead, all right. I couldn’t find a teaching job and so went to work at New Franklin Laundry for wages not much higher than those I had been making at Worumbo Mills and Weaving four years before.”

Example 6: “To a Young Poet” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

“Time cannot break the bird's wing from the bird. Bird and wing together Go down, one feather.

No thing that ever flew, Not the lark, not you, Can die as others do.”

Example 7: Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente

“The keeping of lists was for November an exercise kin to the repeating of a rosary. She considered it neither obsessive nor compulsive, but a ritual, an essential ordering of the world into tall, thin jars containing perfect nouns.”

There you have it—a complete guide to extended metaphors! I hope this article helped you learn more about this versatile literary device.

Don’t forget to run your writing through ProWritingAid to make sure you’re using figurative language as successfully as possible. Our tool can help you avoid clichés, strengthen your imagery, and more.

Can you think of any extended metaphors from your favorite books? Share them with us in the comments!

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Hannah Yang

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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Best Examples of Extended metaphors in Literature

A metaphor is the comparison of two things or ideas. The extended metaphor is that literary device in which this comparison lasts longer in a phrase , some verses , or a paragraph. Extended metaphors allow the writer to clarify an idea through its parallels. When the comparison widens it becomes more than just an alluding or passing reference. Extended metaphors make most complex ideas easy to visualize and understand. As some topics are not easy to handle, writers use extended metaphors in a satirical or comic tone to make the tone gentle for the readers. The purpose of using any literary device, including extended metaphors, is to evoke the reader’s emotions. Here are a few examples of extended metaphors in literature.

Spoilers a head By Jordan Peele

In the 2019 domestic horror film, an affluent African-American family is terrorized by a family of twisted doppelgangers. As the story unfolds, we learn that there is an entire nation of ‘tethered’ twins who live underground — and now they’re looking to separate themselves from their above-ground counterparts

In this example, the “ doppelganger and the description of underground life” here is used as a metaphor for America ’s underclass, and the ignored class faces difficulties just for the comfort of the upper class.

The Old Man and the Sea By Ernest Hemingway

Much like Santiago’s battle against his advancing age, the marlin fights for its survival, so much so that the fisherman sees himself in the fish . He recognizes its endurance and dignity. However, as hard as the marlin fights for its life, it succumbs to Santiago’s spear.

In the given example, Hemingway compares the old man, Santiago, and the marlin through an extended metaphor, which is the struggle to survive in this world with dignity.

Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare  

“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief.’

The example is known as the famous balcony scene, where Romeo is discussing the misery of rejection and Juliet has the strength to bring Romeo back to life. In this extended metaphor, Juliet is compared to the sun making the moon jealous of its brightness.

Seize the Night By Dean Koontz

My imagination is a three-hundred-ring circus. Currently, I was in ring two hundred and ninety-nine, with elephants dancing and clowns cartwheeling and tigers leaping through rings of fire. The time had come to step back, leave the main tent, go buy some popcorn and a Coke, bliss out, cool down.

Here the narrator used an extended metaphor, comparing creativity and happiness to joy as the author lists the things available in a circus.

The Yiddish Policeman’s union By Michael Chabon

It never takes longer than a few minutes, when they get together, for everyone to revert to the state of nature, like a party marooned by a shipwreck. That’s what a family is. Also the storm at sea, the ship, and the unknown shore. And the hats and the whiskey stills that you make out of bamboo and coconuts. And the fire that you light to keep away the beasts.

In the above example, the writer has compared ‘family’ with a ‘people are isolated in shipwreck’. Also, the difficulties to face for survival in this world are discussed through extended metaphor.

Life on the Mississippi By Mark Twain

One day [Mr. Bixby] turned on me suddenly with this settler — ‘What is the shape of Walnut Bend?’” “He might as well have asked me my grandmother’s opinion of protoplasm. I reflected respectfully, and then said I didn’t know it had any particular shape. My gun powdery chief went off with a bang, of course, and then went on loading and firing until he was out of adjectives .” “I had learned long ago that he only carried just so many rounds of ammunition, and was sure to subside into a very placable and even remorseful old smooth-bore as soon as they were all gone”.

In the mentioned passage, the writer uses an extended metaphor of ‘gun powdery’, ‘firing’ and ‘ammunition’ to describe the anger of Mr. Bixby.

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is a valley of ashes – a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air. Occasionally a line of grey cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight. … The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and, when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour.

The narrator describes the land covered with smoke and ashes. Here, the valley of ashes and rest of the industrial area is an extended metaphor for broken American dreams .

To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird .

In this story, the author used “mockingbird and their habits” as an extended metaphor for innocence. Additionally, the whole book repeats a similar comparison of unjust appraisals and trials of an innocent persons.

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Posted on May 30, 2019

What Are Extended Metaphors? How to Use Them, Plus Examples

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.

Of all the literary devices that writers use to bring their stories to life , a metaphor remains one of the most popular. The act of comparing one thing to another may sound simple, but it's proved popular over the centuries, as authors, poets, songwriters and everyday people wield it to explain something in non-literal terms .

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But what happens when a metaphor expands and becomes more than just a passing reference? Well, that’s exactly what this post is all about: the extended metaphor.

What is an extended metaphor?

An extended metaphor is a rhetorical technique that explains a concept by directly mentioning another concept and drawing multiple parallels between them. It is often used to explain a complex idea — allowing readers or listeners to visualize it in terms that they already understand.

In a sense, it’s exactly what it says on the tin: a metaphor that takes the comparison a few steps further. As an example, if you wanted to explain how a traditional publishing house works with an author, you might compare it to a football team like so:

• The author is the quarterback, making the plays and taking the glory;
• The acquiring editor is the coach, calling the shots and giving the QB a team that compliments his skill set; and
• The proofreader is the offensive tackle, protecting the ball-carrier from outside attacks.

Of course, every extended metaphor has its limits. You very rarely find perfect analogies that seamlessly map one idea onto another — so this is where someone might say that a metaphor is “falling apart”:

• The publicist is the, er, punter… helping the team get better field position after a few setbacks?

What is the effect of using extended metaphors?

You may already have picked up on a few key reasons why writers use extended metaphors.

They can help explain a complex idea in simple terms. The example of the football team is an attempt to communicate the interpersonal dynamics of an author-publisher relationship

Some authors use them for humor — purposefully mining the absurdity of a torturously drawn-out metaphor for comedic effect. After a while, comparing a government cabinet to V8 engine just gets silly: “The Secretary of Agriculture is the carburetor — supplying the pistons (the population) with fuel (grain) and air (dairy).”

Perhaps most importantly, writers use extended metaphors to evoke emotions and imagery when they’re writing about something that’s abstract. One of the most commonly cited metaphors comes from Shakespeare’s As You Like It . Jaque, a cynical nobleman, ruminates on the idea of free will and the significance of the individual through the metaphor of a play.

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.

Instead of waxing on about predeterminism, Shakespeare asks you to think of an actor following the stage directions and reading his lines. He deals with an intellectual idea by imbuing it with an emotional and visual hook. Audiences might struggle to “see” existential dread — but they can easily imagine metaphorical actors going through the motions night after night (and twice on Wednesdays).

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9 examples of extended metaphors

In the proud tradition of “show don’t tell,” let’s dig into some extended metaphor examples that we’ve taken from literature, poetry, film, and music. We’ll also decipher what they mean — just so we’re not left in the dark (metaphor!).

Example #1: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief.

Decoded : In this soliloquy, Romeo compares the object of his affection to the sun: a radiant, untouchable figure. Extending the analogy, he wishes that she would rise quicker and chase away the moon, which pales in comparison to the beauty of Juliet.

Example #2: “Stillborn” by Sylvia Plath

These poems do not live: it's a sad diagnosis. They grew their toes and fingers well enough, Their little foreheads bulged with concentration. If they missed out on walking about like people It wasn't for any lack of mother-love.

Decoded: In a particularly morbid example of her work, Plath describes the pain of her craft — comparing the labor of writing a disappointing poem with the trauma of losing a child at birth. One can imagine that the fingers and toes are meant to represent the rhythm of her verse and the concepts behind a poem: conceptually perfect, yet somehow tragically lacking.

Example #3: “Hope Is the Thing With Feathers” by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune — without the words, And never stops at all, And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm.

Decoded: In a similar vein, Alexander Pope once wrote that “Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be blest.” One could argue that Dickinson brings the same idea to life — but with greater impact through her extended metaphor. The visual that she conjures of a singing bird, bashed about in a storm is something far more unforgettable — and likely to resonate with the reader.

Example #4: Us by Jordan Peele

**Spoilers ahead**

In the 2019 domestic horror film, an affluent African-American family is terrorized by a family of twisted doppelgangers. As the story unfolds, we learn that there is an entire nation of ‘tethered’ twins who live underground — and now they’re looking to separate themselves from their above-ground counterparts.

Decoded: Peele’s writing is careful not to make the doppelgangers a metaphor for any single thing. However, many interpret them to represent America’s underclass — such as largely ignored immigrant communities who toil so that the upper-classes may live in comfort.

Just as in poetry, some of the best songs often revolve around a central metaphor. After all, there are only so many ways you can write a literal song about falling in love.

Example #5: “Hound Dog,” Elvis Presley

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog Cryin' all the time You ain't nothin' but a hound dog Cryin' all the time Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine

Decoded: Presley disparages the subject of the song, calling them a dog. He then extends the analogy by saying that they have also failed to catch a rabbit — telling them that they are worthless and classless. The King could be a cold, cold man.

Example #6: “ Life is a Highway,” Rascal Flatts

Life's like a road that you travel on When there's one day here and the next day gone Sometimes you bend and sometimes you stand Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

Decoded: The title sorts of decodes it all for you. Life is transient: it turns unexpectedly and often it grinds to a halt. That being said, turning one’s back to the wind is more of a nautical concept, which is where the metaphor breaks down.

Example #7: “Fish” , Aaron Watson

Then you throw out a line, reel it back in If you catch a boot, you gotta cast it out again You know you’ll never catch a keeper If you sit around and cry So get back in that boat and fish

Decoded: Playing on the old saying of “plenty more fish in the sea,” Watson’s song plays up the angling angle by throwing in more fishing references. The boot presumably refers to an unsuitable partner.

Example #8: “One on One,” Daryl Hall & John Oates

I'm tired of playing on the team It seems I don't get time out anymore What a change if we set the pace face to face No one even trying to score, oh

Decoded: Few people get that the literal reading of this song is about basketball — even the title is a direct hoops reference. However, within the context of the music, we can infer that Daryl Hall is tired of treating romance as a “team game” (rock and roll!) and is ready to settle down for some one-on-one.

Example #9: “The Gambler,” Kenny Rogers

You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done

Decoded: The protagonist of the song meets a gambler on the train. Having won all of the singer’s money, the card sharp offers gambling tips — but in this context, poker is a metaphor for life!

And there you have it — a cornucopia of extended metaphors, filled to the brim with delicious analogies. The next time you’re writing something, why not try one out for yourself? You might decide it’s not your style or you may find that they’re just your cup of tea (okay, last metaphor).

Coline Harmon says:

14/06/2019 – 16:25

Would these methods work best as part of dialogue? I'm writing a story, and it seems like I should have my characters speak the metaphors, most of the time.

Comments are currently closed.

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11 Best Extended Metaphor Examples: Write One Today

These examples of extended metaphors from song lyrics, poems, books, and plays will help you understand this literary device better.

A metaphor is a literary device that compares two, unlike things or concepts. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use the word “like” or “as” but rather compare the items using imagery and with a less direct comparison. Simple metaphors take just a sentence or two to make the comparison.

The purpose of a metaphor is to make it easier for readers to understand a key idea. They can also dramatically improve the readability of a piece of writing. All types of writers from authors to poets to playwrights use metaphors in their works to varying degrees. Some even create entire works around a single extended metaphor.

What Is An Extended Metaphor?

How do i write an extended metaphor, 1. “hope is the thing with feathers” by emily dickinson, 2. “the road not taken” by robert frost, 3. “mother to son” by langston hughes, 4. romeo and juliet by william shakespeare, 5. as you like it by william shakespeare, 6. the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald, 7. seize the night by dean koontz, 8. “i have a dream” speech by martin luther king, jr., 9. havard university commencement address by will ferrell, 10. “firework” by katy perry, 11. “o captain my captain” by walt whitman.

When an entire poem or literary work, (or large portions), is a metaphor, it is known as an extended metaphor. This type of figurative language can be engaging for the reader, drawing them in and helping them better understand the meaning of the work. Extended metaphors can have several purposes. Sometimes, the purpose is to get the reader to think about the characteristics of something by comparing it to something entirely different. Sometimes the purpose is to create a humorous connection. However, the end goal almost always is to create an emotional connection with the reader.

Using a metaphor in your fiction, non-fiction and poetry is relatively easy. First, consider an idea you want to communicate to readers. Next, pick a seemingly unrelated ordinary object. Ideally, it’s something visual or everyday so readers can relate to it. Now, write down a list of what makes the idea and object distinct from each other. Next, write a second list of anything they may have in common. Write several sentences that link the concept and object.

You may need to contrast between them or hypothesize a relationship. Be creative. Finally, pick the extended metaphor that communicates your intention best. From poems to plays to short stories , here are some of the best examples of extended metaphors from classic and modern literature and music.

In this poem , Dickinson compares hope to a little bird. She claims that it never stops singing to the soul, even when all seems full of despair. Because of the beautiful picture painted in the lines of verse, this poem is an example of an extended metaphor. Like many metaphor poems , it helps the reader truly understand her meaning, even when, in the end, she says hope never “asked a crumb of me.”

“Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune – without words, And never stops at all, And the sweetest in the gale is heard;”

In this famous poem by Robert Frost, the speaker stands on the edge of a choice between two roads. While the poem appears to be about the speaker’s travels, in reality, he is talking about life choices, making it an extended metaphor. The fork in the road, the poem’s central image, is a pivotal decision faced in life, and the end of the poem discusses how influential one decision can be. You might also find these examples of tragic flaw in literature interesting.

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;”

In “Mother to Son,” Hughes compares life to a crystal stair, indicating that its struggles are much more complex than climbing a crystal staircase. Instead, the struggles of life are like broken boards and splinters on an old, rugged wooden staircase.

“Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor – Bare. But all the time“

In the famous balcony scene in Shakespeare’s most iconic play , the playwright uses a metaphor to compare Juliet to the sun. Because the single metaphor continues for many lines through the monologue, it fits the definition of the extended metaphor.

“But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she:”

Shakespeare also uses a sustained metaphor in his play As You Like It. In Act II, Scene VII, his character Jaques launches into a monologue. It contains a metaphor comparing the world to a stage with actors upon it . The metaphor continues for many lines, so it fits the extended metaphor definition.

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;”

In one particular passage of The Great Gatsby , Fitzgerald draws a parallel between the poor and ashes. Both are plentiful, and both grow into ridges and hills. Nevertheless, it paints a bleak picture of life for someone without income.

“This is a valley of ashes – a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.”

In one part of Seize the Night , the narrator indicates his mind and imagination are like a 300-ring circus. However, he decides to stop and get a snack at ring 299. To keep the metaphor going, the snack is popcorn and soda, which you could easily find in a circus. If you like this example, check out our list of the best Dean Koontz books.

“Bobby Holloway says my imagination is a three-hundred-ring circus. Currently, I was in ring two hundred and ninety-nine, with elephants dancing and clowns cart wheeling and tigers leaping through rings of fire. The time had come to step back, leave the main tent, go buy some popcorn and a Coke, bliss out, cool down.”

In his “ I Have a Dream” speech, King compares the nation’s Constitution to a promissory note, and then alludes to the fact that prejudice means white people had failed to deliver on that debt. He continues the metaphor by talking about the “bankruptcy” of justice and the “insufficient funds” received by the black people of America.

“When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

When asked to speak to the graduating class of Harvard in 2003, comedian Will Ferrell used an extended metaphor to discuss his lack of education. Instead of commenting directly on this shortcoming, he compared his life’s knowledge to a university in his famous speech . Thankfully, he does not intend for the hearer to take his metaphor too seriously. For more examples like this, check out our list of metaphor examples for kids .

“I graduated from the University of Life. All right? I received a degree from the School of Hard Knocks. And our colors were black and blue, baby.”

Song lyrics often contain extended metaphors, which is clearly seen in Katy Perry’s famous song “ Firework .” In the stanzas of this song, she compares a human’s natural ability to come back from challenges to the spark of a firework.

“’Cause baby, you’re a firework C’mon, show ’em what you’re worth Make ’em go “Aah, aah, aah” As you shoot across the sky Baby, you’re a firework C’mon, let your colors burst Make ’em go, “Aah, aah, aah” You’re gonna leave them all in awe, awe, awe.”

This 1865 poem by Walt Whitman is about the assassination of US president Abraham Lincoln. It doesn’t mention Lincoln explicitly but the key ideas and imagery in the poem are drawn from his assassination and the impact of the death of a great leader on the United States of America. This extended metaphor poem also famously appeared in the 1989 film Dead Poet’s Society starring Robin Williams.   

O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:       But O heart! heart! heart!             O the bleeding drops of red,                   Where on the deck my Captain lies,                         Fallen cold and dead.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our list of the most common types of metaphors .

Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, extended metaphor, definition of extended metaphor.

An extended metaphor, sometimes known as a conceit or sustained metaphor, is a metaphor that an author develops over the course of many lines or even an entire work of literature. An extended metaphor may act as a theme in the work of literature because it is repeated and changes forms as it reappears over and over again. Extended metaphors are complicated than a metaphor that an author only uses once in that extended metaphors more deeply explore the similarities between the original thing and the thing to which it is being compared.

Common Examples of Extended Metaphor

Extended metaphors can be found in famous speeches, such as in the following examples:

No man can fully grasp how far and how fast we have come, but condense, if you will, the 50,000 years of man’s recorded history in a time span of but a half-century. Stated in these terms, we know very little about the first 40 years, except at the end of them advanced man had learned to use the skins of animals to cover them. Then about 10 years ago, under this standard, man emerged from his caves to construct other kinds of shelter. Only five years ago man learned to write and use a cart with wheels. Christianity began less than two years ago. The printing press came this year, and then less than two months ago, during this whole 50-year span of human history, the steam engine provided a new source of power. Newton explored the meaning of gravity. Last month electric lights and telephones and automobiles and airplanes became available. Only last week did we develop penicillin and television and nuclear power, and now if America’s new spacecraft succeeds in reaching Venus, we will have literally reached the stars before midnight tonight.

—John F. Kennedy, “We Choose to go to the Moon” speech, 1962

Kennedy uses the extended metaphor of condensing human history to explore how far we’ve come in a short time and to show that space travel is only a short leap away.

In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream” speech, 1963

While this is not the most famous part of King’s speech, this is a good extended metaphor example in that he compares the promises to the American people to funds that all should inherit.

Significance of Extended Metaphor in Literature

Extended metaphors are most frequently found in poetry, as the author can develop the comparisons throughout the course of the entire poem. William Shakespeare also used many extended metaphors in his plays, treating with the same metaphorical base throughout an entire monologue. Extended metaphors can also sometimes be found in prose, though they often are not sustained for an entire work. There is one notable exception, however, which is the allegory, which has a very similar definition to the definition of extended metaphor. An allegory is considered to be a form of an extended metaphor used to convey a deeper spiritual or moral truth, or to illustrate a historical event or political situation.

Like metaphors, extended metaphors create new synaptic connections for the reader and broaden an audience’s understanding of the world. Extended metaphors can either help better explain the world or complicate it by comparing things that a reader previously had not thought of as alike.

Examples of Extended Metaphor in Literature

JAQUES: All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.

( As You Like It by William Shakespeare)

In this example of extended metaphor, Shakespeare compares the world to a stage and people to actors. He goes on to develop this metaphor by exploring the seven different stages of life.

So was I once myself a swinger of birches. And so I dream of going back to be. It’s when I’m weary of considerations, And life is too much like a pathless wood Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs Broken across it, and one eye is weeping From a twig’s having lashed across it open. I’d like to get away from earth awhile And then come back to it and begin over.

(“Birches” by Robert Frost)

Robert Frost used many examples of extended metaphor in his poetry, and in “Birches” he compares the exhaustion of living to “a pathless wood” that torments the traveller with obstacles like cobwebs and twigs. He revisits this metaphor in his more famous poem “The Road Not Taken.”

I wanted to be sure to reach you; though my ship was on the way it got caught in some moorings. I am always tying up and then deciding to depart. In storms and at sunset, with the metallic coils of the tide around my fathomless arms, I am unable to understand the forms of my vanity or I am hard alee with my Polish rudder in my hand and the sun sinking. To you I offer my hull and the tattered cordage of my will. The terrible channels where the wind drives me against the brown lips of the reeds are not all behind me. Yet I trust the sanity of my vessel; and if it sinks, it may well be in answer to the reasoning of the eternal voices, the waves which have kept me from reaching you.

(“To The Harbormaster” by Frank O’Hara)

In this poem, Frank O’Hara sustains a metaphor from the beginning to end about a man who is like a seafarer attempting to reach his lover. O’Hara uses many words and images relating to this idea, from verbs like “tying up” and “depart” to nouns such as “moorings,” “tide,” “rudder,” “vessel,” and so on.

Historical fact: People stopped being people in 1913. That was the year Henry Ford put his cars on rollers and made his workers adopt the speed of the assembly line. At first, workers rebelled. They quit in droves, unable to accustom their bodies to the new pace of the age. Since then, however, the adaptation has been passed down: we’ve all inherited it to some degree, so that we plug right into joy-sticks and remotes, to repetitive motions of a hundred kinds. But in 1922 it was still a new thing to be a machine.

( Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides)

This example from Jeffrey Eugenides’s novel Middlesex compares humans to machines and shows how the metaphor was at first uncomfortable to human beings and yet has become pervasive in our culture. This is an interesting example of extended metaphor because Eugenides shows how it has affected us all, and how metaphor can become reality.

Test Your Knowledge of Extended Metaphor

1. Choose the correct extended metaphor definition from the following statements: A. A metaphor that an author develops throughout several lines or the entire work of literature. B. A metaphor that an author uses just once to illustrate a comparison. C. A literary device only used in poems that compares two things that are completely dissimilar. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #1″]Answer: A is the correct answer. [/spoiler]

2. Consider the following passage from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet :

ROMEO: But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off…. Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night.

Is this excerpt an example of extended metaphor?

A. No; Romeo calls Juliet “the sun” just once and never repeats that comparison. B. Yes; Romeo compares Juliet to the sun and reinforces this metaphor by speaking of several other celestial bodies, include the “envious moon,” stars, and heaven. C. Yes; this is an example of an extended metaphor acting as an allegory because there is deeper moral truth in Romeo’s comparison of Juliet to the sun.

[spoiler title=”Answer to Question #2″]Answer: B is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

3. What extended metaphor does Robert Frost employ in his poem “The Road Not Taken”?

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

A. Robert Frost traveled through a literal forest and reminisces about it fondly. B. Robert Frost regrets the life choices he has made and blames a long-ago journey through a forest for the poor outcome. C. Robert Frost compares the divergence of two paths in a wood to the choices he has made in life and explores the idea of choosing a less common life choice. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″]Answer: C is the correct answer.[/spoiler]