Chapter 9

Metaphor is the main topic of this chapter. A metaphor is a "device of the poetic imagination and the rhetorical flourish - a matter of extraordinary rather than ordinary language." Metaphors are used in language, thought, and action. Another concept that plays an important role in the way we think is metonymy. Metaphor is based on analogy and similarity (one thing in terms of another), while metonymy is based upon association. This is when something is called a different term that is very similar. For example, "crown" and "royalty" are two words that could be replaced with each other because they have similar meanings. When people speak of England, or any event in past history with a king or queen, people refer to the power as the "crown". Another example are the words "Washington D.C." and "government". People often simultaneously use these words because Washington D.C. is where the President of the United States lives and it is the capital of this country. Also, the Supreme Court justices meet there, as well as other very important politicians that determine the fate of our country. Synecdoche is a form of metonymy and it means that a part is used to stand for the whole (or vice versa). Synecdoches are useful as part of our thinking, but are not as strong as metonymy. (Likewise, similes are not as strong as metaphors). Even though metaphors are used everyday, not very many people realize the importance of them.