Function of Metaphor: Poetry - AP English Literature and Composition
- What is the tenor in the metaphor "Time is a thief"?
- Time. The tenor is what's being described metaphorically.
- Identify the extended metaphor in: "The classroom was a zoo; the bell was the keeper's whip."
- School is framed as a zoo across multiple linked images. Both sentences develop the central zoo comparison.
- Identify whether this is extended metaphor: "Life is a journey" repeated with travel details.
- Extended metaphor. Journey metaphor continues with travel imagery.
- Identify the metaphor in the sentence: "Time is a thief."
- "Time is a thief.". The entire sentence equates time with a thief.
- Identify the metaphor in this line: "Time is a thief."
- Time is a thief. The entire statement equates time with thief directly.
- What is a metaphor in literary analysis?
- A direct comparison stating one thing is another to create meaning. Unlike simile, metaphor creates identity without comparison words.
- Identify the tenor (target) in: "Her mind was a storm of questions."
- Tenor: "her mind". The tenor is the subject being described metaphorically.
- What is a dead (conventional) metaphor?
- A metaphor so common it no longer feels figurative. Overuse strips the comparison of its imaginative power.
- Identify the problem in: "We will sail through this and hit the ground running."
- Mixed metaphor. Sailing and running clash as incompatible images.
- Which option best identifies the mixed metaphor: A) "a sea of grief" B) "grief is a stone" C) "grief is a stone that drowned me"?
- C. Stones can't drown people—incompatible actions mixed.
- What is the vehicle in the metaphor "Time is a thief"?
- Thief. The vehicle is what the tenor is compared to.
- Identify the implied metaphor in: "He barked orders all morning."
- He is compared to a dog (barking) without being named. "Barked" implies dog-like behavior without stating it.
- What is the most reliable way to distinguish metaphor from simile?
- Metaphor asserts identity; simile compares using "like" or "as". Direct equation (is/was/are) vs. comparison markers distinguish them.
- What key feature distinguishes a metaphor from a simile?
- Metaphor asserts identity; simile compares using like/as. This structural difference creates stronger identification.
- Which word signals a metaphor in: "Her voice was velvet"?
- was. This linking verb creates the metaphorical equation.
- What does it mean to explain the function of a metaphor (not just identify it)?
- State how it develops meaning, tone, or theme in context. Function analysis goes beyond identification to purpose.
- What is an implied metaphor (as opposed to an explicit metaphor)?
- A comparison suggested without naming both compared terms. The comparison relies on context clues rather than explicit statement.
- What is a dead metaphor?
- A conventional metaphor whose figurative force is largely worn out. Original figurative meaning has become literal through overuse.
- Identify the metaphorical claim in: "The city swallowed him whole."
- The city swallowed him whole. Direct metaphor: city = predator that swallows.
- What question best identifies a metaphor's function in a poem or passage?
- What meaning or effect does this comparison create in context. Function analysis focuses on purpose, not just identification.
- Which function is most likely when a metaphor intensifies mood or feeling?
- Emotional amplification (tone and mood shaping). Metaphors evoke feelings through sensory associations.
- Which option best states a metaphor's function rather than its literal meaning?
- It reveals the speaker's attitude by framing the subject through an image. Function describes effect, not literal comparison.
- Which option best states the function of "Time is a thief" in one phrase?
- It emphasizes time's power to take life and opportunities. The thief comparison emphasizes loss and theft.
- Which function is most likely when a metaphor frames how readers judge a subject?
- Reframing: guiding interpretation and evaluation. Metaphors shape perception by controlling comparison terms.
- Which function best fits a violent metaphor describing debate as combat?
- It frames conflict as adversarial, intensifying tone and stakes. Combat imagery creates hostile, aggressive tone.
- Which function is most likely when a metaphor reveals a speaker's attitude or bias?
- Characterization of the speaker's perspective. The comparison choice reveals the speaker's worldview.
- What is a mixed metaphor?
- A faulty blend of incompatible metaphorical images in one expression. Combines unrelated metaphors illogically.
- Which function is most likely when a metaphor makes an abstract idea concrete?
- Clarification through concretizing abstraction. Concrete images help readers grasp complex concepts.
- What is an extended metaphor?
- A metaphor sustained and developed across multiple lines or passages. It elaborates one central comparison throughout.
- Which step best completes metaphor analysis after identifying tenor and vehicle?
- Infer shared qualities and connect them to theme, tone, or character. Analysis requires linking comparison to literary effect.
- Which phrase is most likely a dead metaphor: "the foot of the bed" or "my grief is an ocean"?
- "the foot of the bed". "Foot" barely registers as metaphorical anymore.
- Identify the metaphorical vehicle in: "Her mind was a storm of questions."
- Vehicle: "storm". The vehicle is what the tenor is compared to.
- What is the most defensible function of "The city swallowed him whole" in context?
- It conveys dehumanizing overwhelm by portraying the city as predatory. Predatory image emphasizes urban alienation.
- What is the primary effect of a conceptual metaphor (e.g., ARGUMENT AS WAR)?
- It structures how readers think about an abstract idea through a framework. Shapes understanding by mapping one domain onto another.
- Which function is most likely when a metaphor connects a specific detail to a larger idea?
- Thematic development through symbolic association. Repeated metaphors build meaning beyond literal events.
- Identify the vehicle in: "Her mind was a locked room".
- A locked room. The vehicle is the comparison image (locked room).
- Choose the sentence that contains a metaphor: A) "He ran like the wind." B) "He was the wind."
- B. A uses "like" (simile); B creates direct equivalence.