Metaphor Pairings

Part 1: Collections/Collectors

 

This unit is aimed at helping the writer select metaphors that work well together, preventing the common problem of "mixed metaphors".

 

 

A sentence can contain any number of metaphors, provided that the original subject is not lost along the way (remember at all times that as an equation, an effective metaphor needs to be complete and equal on both "sides"). In order to produce a seamless statement, one is best to match up various parts of speech, such as noun and verbs. This is perhaps the greatest testing grounds for ones application of dead metaphors*, as we so often use them without recognition. By pairing a living metaphor** with a dead metaphor, we resurrect the dead metaphor (presumably creating a zombie metaphor), and move closer to building complete metaphor templates, which in turn may be translated whole into any language or science. [More on Living and Dead Metaphors]

 

 

The left column is a descriptive line based on the plain wrapper statement: "The Sci-Phi Pilot  is an e-book containing a variety of sciences that are associated with each other using the metaphor".  Simply substitute the words after "The Sci-Phi Pilot is an e-book containing..." with each line in the left column. Each line contains two underlined words, a collection followed by a collector***. 

 

 

The right column is an example of the realm in which the metaphor pair might best work, and the effect that the specific pairing may have on the reader. The more time you spend examining and expanding these statements, the more you will get out of this page.

 

 

Try replacing either of the two words from the left column with synonyms from related fields to see how this effects the resulting feel of the pairing. For example, replace "glued" with "bound" or "adhered" in the first statement.

 

 

Metaphor Pairing 

Realm/Effect

 

 

A mosaic of sciences glued together by the metaphor.

Art: An ironic sense of the sophisticated and crude in wedlock.

 

A stew of sciences cooked together by the metaphor.

Food: A plain, subtle but earthy sense of movement.

 

A hodgepodge of sciences blended together by the metaphor.

Visual: An awkward, chaotic and moving sense.

 

A symphony of sciences brought into harmony by the metaphor. 

Music: A auditory sense of pleasing flow, clarity and co-operation.

 

A soup of sciences stirred together by the metaphor.

Food: As with stew, a plain, subtle but earthy sense of movement.

 

A troupe of sciences choreographed by the metaphor.

Dance: An organized sense of movement, flow and rhythm.

 

A cacophony of  sciences harmonized by the metaphor.

Music: A self deprecating sense of controlled chaos. 

 

A flock of sciences herded by the metaphor. 

Farming: A sense of free movement brought into dynamic control.

 

A gathering of sciences hosted by the metaphor.  

Social: A sense of willing participation in a group atmosphere.

 

A salad of sciences tossed by the metaphor. 

Food: A fun, self deprecating sense of randomness.

 

A dryer-load of sciences tumbled together by the metaphor.

Household: A ludicrously expressed sense of randomness.

 

A clockwork of sciences synchronized by the metaphor.

Time: A sense of clean, precise mechanical order.

 

A spectrum of sciences focused by the metaphor. 

Visual: A vivid sense of color and control. (compare: rainbow)

 

A tour through the sciences guided by the metaphor. 

Tourism: A sense of transient non-committal interest.

 

A basket of sciences woven by the metaphor.

Farming: A sense of crafty complexity from simple roots.

 

A bushel of sciences gathered by the metaphor.

Farming: A sense of harvesting ideas; earthy and tangible.

 

A symphony of sciences conducted by the metaphor.

Music: A sense of controlled flow and yielding unity.

 

A blend of sciences sifted together by the metaphor.

Cooking: A sense of movement and fine integration.

 

A cocktail of sciences shaken (not stirred!) together by the metaphor.

Cooking: An indelicate forcing together of elements.

 

A quilt of sciences stitched together by the metaphor.

Household: A timeless, patient sense of craftwork.

 

*[dead metaphor: a metaphor which has been incorporated into the host language, and is treated as any other word]

example: I gather you understand this concept. The definition of gather - to physically grasp and collect - has          evolved to include "to mentally grasp...". Compare this to "fog", below.

**[living metaphor: a metaphor which is still treated as such]

example: My head is in a fog here... The definition of "fog" still revolves around a physical form of "mist", but the metaphor involves an inability to mentally "see".

***[technically: a collective noun (often of questionable reputation!) and a past participle (of unscrupulous craftsmanship!)]