That author would use the animals as characters, rather than humans, and in that way, depict the animalistic qualities that humans can display.Ī conceit is an intricate, intellectual or far-fetched metaphor. Someone wanting to write a commentary on society might set her story amongst a pack of wolves or a flock of birds. The sun would represent the object of that love and the revolving planet would represent the one who is in love, encircling that sun, drawing warmth and nourishing life from it. Example 2Ī poet wanting to express his love might write a poem about planets and suns. The fox would represent the criminal and the chickens would represent the victims. Examples of Extended Metaphor Example 1Īn author wanting to tell a story about a criminal, might employ extended metaphor and instead, tell a story about a fox who attacks a farmer’s flock of chickens. You may have even used them yourself, without realizing what they were. You have probably come across many examples of extended metaphor and have most likely understood them. They are commonly used in poetry, as well as prose. In an extended metaphor, the author takes a single metaphor and employs it at length, using various subjects, images, ideas and situations. The amount of detail can vary from that of a sentence or a paragraph, to encompassing an entire work.

An extended metaphor is a metaphor that is developed in great detail.

Metaphors in the road not taken