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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: "IWW Exercise "Metaphor (V. 3)"
These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop (http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/).
Prepared by: Patricia Johnson
Posted on: 25 February 2001
Reposted on: 17 February 2002
Reposted on: 28 February 2005
Reposted on: 2 July 2006
Reposted, revised, on 13 July 2008
Reposted, revised, on 8 January 2017
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, create a scene that includes at least
one metaphor. Make sure your choice of metaphor is relevant to the story.
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Metaphors are different from similes. Both are common tools used by
writers to make comparisons. They help to increase understanding in an
original and effective way.
This exercise calls for metaphors, that equate one thing with another.
Notice the following examples don't include words similar to 'like', as
those would instead be similes.
Metaphors:
This guy is a thorn in my side.
Fog creeps in on little cat feet. (Carl Sandburg)
Elizabeth Bishop's poem "Armadillo" uses this metaphor to describe a
baby rabbit:
so soft!-a handful of intangible ash/ with fixed, ignited eyes.
Andra McPherson in "Alleys" uses this metaphor to describe the first
flower she picked for her husband:
It is
Not even a withered flower anymore,
But the dust of the first thing I did for him.
A good metaphor is original, fresh and revealing, and does not have to
explain itself. It is closer to understatement than to exaggeration. To
work, no matter how abstract, a metaphor must be on target and
truthful without being farfetched. It must also avoid cliches. Sometimes
an author will extend a metaphor with many variances within a single
story or poem.
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, create a scene that includes at least
one metaphor. Make sure your choice of metaphor is relevant to the story.
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Critiquing: Does the metaphor "work"? Did the author invoke the
scene in your mind? Why or why not? And of course, critique the writing
in general.
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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