An analogy is a literary device that draws a comparison between two things to highlight their similarities, often to explain or clarify an idea. Analogies aid readers in understanding complex concepts by relating them to something familiar. This makes them a useful tool for properly communicating nuanced ideas in literature.
In this article, we take a closer look at analogies and use examples from Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson.
Examples of analogy
A good example of analogy is in Shakespeare’s "Sonnet 73" (1609):
1. Shakespeare, Sonnet 73:
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
The poem in fact is made up of three analogies. In the first quatrain (or four lines), the poet compares his aging body to trees losing their leaves in winter. In the second quatrain, he draws an analogy with his old age and the setting sun. In the third quatrain, the analogy is with a dying fire.
All three analogies drive toward the same thing. The author is pondering on his old age, his loss of vigor, and his eventual mortal demise. In the last two lines of the poem, he suggests that the person he is addressing should appreciate the precious time they have left.
2. Dickinson, "Because I Could not Stop for Death" (1863):
Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" uses an analogy that compares death to a gentleman driving a carriage headed toward Eternity.
Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.
We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –
We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –
Or rather – He passed Us –
The Dews drew quivering and Chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –
Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –
The analogy has a surreal effect, while accurately describing the nature of death. Death here is portrayed as a sociable and kindly gentleman when in fact that is not the case. It is something that most people find terrifying and have no control over. Emily Dickinson uses the analogy here to stare the reality of death in the face to imagine "the Eternity" beyond it.
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Why writers use analogy
Writers use analogy to make abstract or complex ideas easy to understand. For example, the analogies used by Shakespeare in "Sonnet 73" are easy to recognize by anyone. This is reinforced even more by the ending of the poem, which ends with the following couplet:
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
The poem is saying that we should cherish our loved ones while we can a slide is short. This is a common sentiment that most people would appreciate or agree with.
Analogies also can be used to accurately describe difficult concepts or ideas. In the case of Emily Dickinson, the dread of death is taken away using a mixture of understatement and analogy. For example, the poet says "Because I could not stop for Death . . . / He kindly stopped for me." The poet is describing how we don't want to die but have no choice in the matter because death will eventually stop for us.
What is the difference between analogy and metaphor?
Analogies and metaphors are closely related. In fact, some of the best analogies are metaphors and similes. Emily Dickinson's poem is a personification of death that transforms death into a carriage driver. Shakespeare's "Sonnet 73" uses three metaphors.
The difference between the two lies in the fact that an analogy is usually more extensive and explains a longer and more complicated idea in more detail. Emily Dickinson's poem is a prime example of this. Metaphors are usually briefer. It explains several aspects of death. This includes the fact that humans have no choice in the matter in Stanza 1.
Stanza 2 describes how all humans care about ("My labor and my leisure too") are put to the side when faced with the reality of death. Stanza 3 references to "the school" and "gazing grain" to symbolize human youth and bloom. Lastly, Stanzas 4 and 5 symbolize the final stage of being buried, with five contemplating the "Eternity" that comes after death.
Cite this EminentEdit article |
Antoine, M. (2024, December 18). What Is an Analogy? EminentEdit. https://www.eminentediting.com/post/what-is-an-analogy |
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