Function of Metaphor: Fiction/Drama - AP English Literature and Composition
Card 1 of 30
Identify the vehicle in: “Time is a thief that steals our years.”
Identify the vehicle in: “Time is a thief that steals our years.”
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Thief. Thief is the comparison image that carries meaning.
Thief. Thief is the comparison image that carries meaning.
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Identify the metaphor in: “Time is a thief that steals our days.”
Identify the metaphor in: “Time is a thief that steals our days.”
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“Time is a thief.”. Personifies time as actively taking from us.
“Time is a thief.”. Personifies time as actively taking from us.
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Which function best fits a metaphor that creates a mood such as dread or serenity?
Which function best fits a metaphor that creates a mood such as dread or serenity?
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Mood and atmosphere establishment. Figurative language evokes emotional atmosphere.
Mood and atmosphere establishment. Figurative language evokes emotional atmosphere.
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Which function best fits a metaphor that makes a theme recur across a text?
Which function best fits a metaphor that makes a theme recur across a text?
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Thematic reinforcement and unification. Repeated metaphors create thematic coherence.
Thematic reinforcement and unification. Repeated metaphors create thematic coherence.
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Which function best fits a metaphor that critiques society or power structures indirectly?
Which function best fits a metaphor that critiques society or power structures indirectly?
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Social or political commentary via figurative framing. Metaphors can subtly expose societal flaws.
Social or political commentary via figurative framing. Metaphors can subtly expose societal flaws.
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Identify the metaphor in this sentence: “Her memory is a locked room.”
Identify the metaphor in this sentence: “Her memory is a locked room.”
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“Her memory is a locked room.”. The entire sentence creates the metaphorical comparison.
“Her memory is a locked room.”. The entire sentence creates the metaphorical comparison.
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Identify the tenor in: “Her memory is a locked room.”
Identify the tenor in: “Her memory is a locked room.”
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Her memory. What's being described in metaphorical terms.
Her memory. What's being described in metaphorical terms.
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Identify the vehicle in: “Her memory is a locked room.”
Identify the vehicle in: “Her memory is a locked room.”
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A locked room. The comparative image that illuminates the tenor.
A locked room. The comparative image that illuminates the tenor.
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Choose the best function of: “Her memory is a locked room” (guarded, inaccessible).
Choose the best function of: “Her memory is a locked room” (guarded, inaccessible).
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Characterization through emotional guardedness. Suggests repressed or protected memories.
Characterization through emotional guardedness. Suggests repressed or protected memories.
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Choose the best function of: “Time is a thief” in a reflective passage about aging.
Choose the best function of: “Time is a thief” in a reflective passage about aging.
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Theme development about loss and mortality. Reinforces themes of time's passage and inevitable loss.
Theme development about loss and mortality. Reinforces themes of time's passage and inevitable loss.
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Identify the metaphor in: “The courtroom was a theater, and truth wore a mask.”
Identify the metaphor in: “The courtroom was a theater, and truth wore a mask.”
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“The courtroom was a theater” and “truth wore a mask.”. Two distinct metaphors work together in the sentence.
“The courtroom was a theater” and “truth wore a mask.”. Two distinct metaphors work together in the sentence.
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Choose the best function of: “The courtroom was a theater” in a cynical narrator’s voice.
Choose the best function of: “The courtroom was a theater” in a cynical narrator’s voice.
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Social commentary on performative justice. Critiques legal proceedings as artificial performances.
Social commentary on performative justice. Critiques legal proceedings as artificial performances.
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What is the ground (shared meaning) of a metaphor?
What is the ground (shared meaning) of a metaphor?
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The common qualities linking tenor and vehicle. These shared attributes justify the metaphorical connection.
The common qualities linking tenor and vehicle. These shared attributes justify the metaphorical connection.
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What is the vehicle in a metaphor?
What is the vehicle in a metaphor?
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The image used for comparison (the figurative term). Provides the imaginative lens through which we view the tenor.
The image used for comparison (the figurative term). Provides the imaginative lens through which we view the tenor.
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Which function best fits a metaphor that makes an abstract idea concrete?
Which function best fits a metaphor that makes an abstract idea concrete?
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Clarification through concreteness (abstract-to-concrete translation). Transforms intangible concepts into tangible images.
Clarification through concreteness (abstract-to-concrete translation). Transforms intangible concepts into tangible images.
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Which function best fits a metaphor that reveals a character’s inner state indirectly?
Which function best fits a metaphor that reveals a character’s inner state indirectly?
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Characterization through implied psychology. Shows rather than tells emotional or mental states.
Characterization through implied psychology. Shows rather than tells emotional or mental states.
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What is the tenor in a metaphor?
What is the tenor in a metaphor?
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The subject being described (the literal idea or thing). The actual concept being metaphorically transformed.
The subject being described (the literal idea or thing). The actual concept being metaphorically transformed.
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What is a metaphor in literary analysis (as distinct from a simile)?
What is a metaphor in literary analysis (as distinct from a simile)?
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An implied comparison stating one thing is another, without like/as. Unlike similes, metaphors create direct equivalence between two things.
An implied comparison stating one thing is another, without like/as. Unlike similes, metaphors create direct equivalence between two things.
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Which function best fits this metaphor: “His mind was a locked room”? Choose: secrecy, speed, abundance.
Which function best fits this metaphor: “His mind was a locked room”? Choose: secrecy, speed, abundance.
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Secrecy. Locked rooms suggest hidden or inaccessible contents.
Secrecy. Locked rooms suggest hidden or inaccessible contents.
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Identify the tenor in: “Time is a thief that steals our years.”
Identify the tenor in: “Time is a thief that steals our years.”
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Time. Time is the subject being described metaphorically.
Time. Time is the subject being described metaphorically.
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What does it mean to identify the “grounds” of a metaphor?
What does it mean to identify the “grounds” of a metaphor?
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To state the shared qualities linking tenor and vehicle. Grounds explain why the comparison works or makes sense.
To state the shared qualities linking tenor and vehicle. Grounds explain why the comparison works or makes sense.
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Which option is a metaphor rather than a simile: A) “Her voice is like honey.” B) “Her voice is honey.”?
Which option is a metaphor rather than a simile: A) “Her voice is like honey.” B) “Her voice is honey.”?
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B) “Her voice is honey.”. B uses "is" for direct equivalence; A uses "like" for simile.
B) “Her voice is honey.”. B uses "is" for direct equivalence; A uses "like" for simile.
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What is the key difference between a metaphor and a simile?
What is the key difference between a metaphor and a simile?
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A metaphor asserts identity; a simile compares using “like” or “as.”. Metaphors use "is" while similes use comparison words.
A metaphor asserts identity; a simile compares using “like” or “as.”. Metaphors use "is" while similes use comparison words.
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What is the vehicle in a metaphor?
What is the vehicle in a metaphor?
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The image used for comparison that carries the figurative meaning. The vehicle provides the figurative comparison image.
The image used for comparison that carries the figurative meaning. The vehicle provides the figurative comparison image.
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Identify the metaphor in the sentence: “After the verdict, the courtroom was a furnace.”
Identify the metaphor in the sentence: “After the verdict, the courtroom was a furnace.”
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“The courtroom was a furnace.”. The courtroom equals furnace, suggesting intense heat/emotion.
“The courtroom was a furnace.”. The courtroom equals furnace, suggesting intense heat/emotion.
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What is the function of a dead metaphor in most prose contexts?
What is the function of a dead metaphor in most prose contexts?
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It provides familiar phrasing with little vivid imagery or interpretive force. Dead metaphors function as ordinary language, not vivid imagery.
It provides familiar phrasing with little vivid imagery or interpretive force. Dead metaphors function as ordinary language, not vivid imagery.
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Which option is a dead metaphor: A) “the foot of the mountain” B) “grief is an ocean”?
Which option is a dead metaphor: A) “the foot of the mountain” B) “grief is an ocean”?
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A) “the foot of the mountain”. Dead metaphors like "foot" have lost figurative impact.
A) “the foot of the mountain”. Dead metaphors like "foot" have lost figurative impact.
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Identify the implied metaphor in: “He barked orders at the recruits.”
Identify the implied metaphor in: “He barked orders at the recruits.”
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The speaker is likened to a dog (barking) to suggest aggression. Barking implies dog-like behavior without stating it directly.
The speaker is likened to a dog (barking) to suggest aggression. Barking implies dog-like behavior without stating it directly.
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Which option best states the function of “The city is a jungle” in context of danger? A) literal detail B) mood/atmosphere C) chronology
Which option best states the function of “The city is a jungle” in context of danger? A) literal detail B) mood/atmosphere C) chronology
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B) Mood/atmosphere. Jungle metaphor creates dangerous, chaotic atmosphere.
B) Mood/atmosphere. Jungle metaphor creates dangerous, chaotic atmosphere.
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What is one function of metaphor in shaping tone?
What is one function of metaphor in shaping tone?
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It signals an attitude (admiring, bitter, ironic) through image choice. Image selection reveals speaker's emotional stance.
It signals an attitude (admiring, bitter, ironic) through image choice. Image selection reveals speaker's emotional stance.
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