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Wanna 10x your writing skills?
Become a master of metaphor.
"Metaphor? Like, fluffy poetry stuff?!"
Yeah, no... the way it's taught in school is ABYSMAL.
Aristotle wrote, âThe greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor.â
Here's what 90% of us didn't get in class:
Become a master of metaphor.
"Metaphor? Like, fluffy poetry stuff?!"
Yeah, no... the way it's taught in school is ABYSMAL.
Aristotle wrote, âThe greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor.â
Here's what 90% of us didn't get in class:
In school, they define metaphor as âA comparison of unlike things without using the words LIKE or AS."
Along with that dreadfully unintuitive definition, they imply that metaphor is special & exoticâgood for poets, but not for us humans.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Along with that dreadfully unintuitive definition, they imply that metaphor is special & exoticâgood for poets, but not for us humans.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
In fact, language *is* metaphor. We CONSTANTLY use one thing to represent another thing.
Example 1:
Up = Good; Down = Bad.
- Moving "up" in the world
- Feeling "low"
- "High" standards
- It's "downhill" from here
- "Upstanding" citizens
- "Stooping" to his level is "beneath" me
Example 1:
Up = Good; Down = Bad.
- Moving "up" in the world
- Feeling "low"
- "High" standards
- It's "downhill" from here
- "Upstanding" citizens
- "Stooping" to his level is "beneath" me
Ex 2:
Cleverness = Sharp Object.
- A "razor-sharp" wit
- A "keen" mind
- "Incisive" critique
- She "cuts" to the heart of the matter
Ex 3:
Argument = War.
- He "attacked every weak point" in my argument
- She "shot down" my argument
- Your claims are "indefensible"
Cleverness = Sharp Object.
- A "razor-sharp" wit
- A "keen" mind
- "Incisive" critique
- She "cuts" to the heart of the matter
Ex 3:
Argument = War.
- He "attacked every weak point" in my argument
- She "shot down" my argument
- Your claims are "indefensible"
Metaphors are tied to our behavior. "Argument = War" supports the view that âargumentâ is combative.
Imagine instead using "Argument = Journey or Path":
* "Walk me through" the argument
* "Follow it step by step"
* "Arrive" at a conclusion
* Don't "veer off" onto a tangent
Imagine instead using "Argument = Journey or Path":
* "Walk me through" the argument
* "Follow it step by step"
* "Arrive" at a conclusion
* Don't "veer off" onto a tangent
Or perhaps "Argument = A Construction Project":
* "Build" an argument
* Build it on a strong "foundation"
* Show me its "components" & "structure"
Perhaps a household that changes its metaphorical understanding of âargumentâ could become more peaceful.
* "Build" an argument
* Build it on a strong "foundation"
* Show me its "components" & "structure"
Perhaps a household that changes its metaphorical understanding of âargumentâ could become more peaceful.
In any case, there are many ways of communicating things, & metaphor always plays a role.
Thatâs why if you become a master of metaphor, your writing will get stronger.
For a paradigm-shifting cognitive adventure, study the classic Metaphors We Live By:
https://www.amazon.com/Metaphors-We-Live-George-Lakoff-ebook/dp/B009KA3Y6I
Thatâs why if you become a master of metaphor, your writing will get stronger.
For a paradigm-shifting cognitive adventure, study the classic Metaphors We Live By:
https://www.amazon.com/Metaphors-We-Live-George-Lakoff-ebook/dp/B009KA3Y6I
