Simile & Metaphor

In class, we've been discussing the parts of a metaphor and the ways we can use the parts of metaphors in poetry to better understand meaning in a poem.  Your task for tonight's homework is to post 3 metaphors (remember, that can include similes as well!) from 1 poem or song you know well.  Under each metaphor, list its parts (the tenor, vehicle & grounds).  After, write a little bit about what the metaphors have in common and what you can better understand about the poem or song through its metaphors.

Don't forget to cite your poem!

My example:

"I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky" (Eddie Vedder, "Black," Pearl Jam Ten)
tenor: you
vehicle: a star in somebody else's sky
grounds: both the person the speaker describes and the star will be bright & important

"All five horizons revolved around her soul as the Earth to the Sun" (Eddie Vedder, "Black," Pearl Jam Ten)

tenor (a): the five horizons                  tenor (b): her soul
vehicle (a): the Earth                           vehicle (b): the Sun
grounds: one revolves around the other; everything important in his life revolved around her in the same way the Earth revolves around the sun

"And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass of what was everything" (Eddie Vedder, "Black," Pearl Jam Ten)

tenor: what was everything
vehicle: broken glass
grounds: both are shattered

These metaphors help to communicate the meaning that the speaker feels that he has lost everything important in his life since his relationship has ended.  He is devastated that she will be important in someone else's life in the future and will cease to have a central role in his.  He talks about the way his world revolved around her, describes his world as shattered now that she's left it and says that she'll "be a star in somebody else's sky," lamenting that she will not "be a star" in "[his]."

Your First Assignment

First, you'll find a poem that you think has really strong images (remember that images describe what something looks like rather than say, "I see," etc).  Once you've found it, you'll share it on this blog.  YOU NEED NOT TYPE THE ENTIRE POEM; just type out what you think is its most vivid image.  Don't forget to cite it.  You'll need to share the name of the poet, the name of the poem, and where you found it.  If it's posted online, give the complete URL, with all the numbers and symbols and everything.

After you've shared your image, you'll explain what strikes you about it.  What sensory experience does it recreate for you?  What did it help you understand about the what the speaker attempts to communicate in the poem?

Finally, comment on an image someone else has shared.  Do you agree or disagree with what that person has to say about his or her image?  Why?  Do you have strong reaction to the image, either negative or positive?  Why do you think that is?  Write it!

You should pick a poem you are not already familiar with, and you may not pick a poem someone else has already posted.

Here's mine:

"How to choose/ persimmons. This is precision./ Ripe ones are soft and brown-spotted./

Sniff the bottoms. The sweet one/ will be fragrant. How to eat:/

put the knife away, lay down newspaper./ Peel the skin tenderly, not to tear the meat./

Chew the skin, suck it,/ and swallow. Now, eat/ the meat of the fruit,/ so sweet,/

all of it, to the heart."

from "Persimmons" by Li-Young Lee http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171753

 

I chose this part of the poem "Persimmons" because it creates images that involve the senses of smell, sight, taste and touch.  The poet describes the soft feel of the fruit, its fragrant smell, sweet taste and spotted appearance.  It really helps the reader to understand the experience the poet is describing in the poem through the persimmon; he has fond memories of the fruit and appreciates its nuances, but his classmates are unable to and his teacher is unable to adequately convey that expereince to them.  This is like the speaker's own experiences attempting to fit in.  This passage describes his love for something traditionally representative of his cultural heritage.