A Discussion of the Complexities of the English Language: How to use Metaphors and Similes Correctly

The saying “poetry is to art as words are to sentences” leads into a discussion of the complexities of the English language including the correct use of metaphors and similes. Distinguishing between the two is not always easy. 

Dictionary.com defines metaphor as “a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance” or “something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else”. An example of a metaphor might be, ‘Life is an ongoing reel of events’ stating that something is something else.

Dictionary.com defines simile as “a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared”, or “an instance of such a figure of speech or use of words exemplifying it”. An example of a simile might be 'the man is like a lion in a cage.’ The man and the lion are two distinct, unlike things compared for the purpose of expression.

Poetic expression or poetry, involves the use of both metaphors and similes forming concepts, while sentences in prose tend to be less poetic in nature and are structured. On the other hand, there are also mixed metaphors distinguishable by their lack of logic.

The expression mixed metaphor defined by dictionary.com, is “the use in the same expression of two or more metaphors that are incongruous or illogical when combined.” An example of a mixed metaphor might be ‘a new king or queen will cause the country to blossom.’

While metaphors, similes and mixed metaphors are often indistinct in the writing process, there is conceptual understanding that surpasses the mere expression of words that form sentences. The eastern world uses concepts while the western world tends more towards the use of words.

Part of the difficulty with the use of metaphors, similes and mixed metaphors is that of attempting to translate them from language to language. This may not be possible as poetic language creates imagery or concepts, rather than words forming easily translated sentences.  

Poetry is the language of poetic expression comparable to artistic expression found in art. Words are the basic components of sentence structure. In many ways, the initial saying “poetry is to art as words are to sentences” has some degree of logic but in a poetic, conceptual sense and does not make sense as otherwise, the comparisons are not logical. In other words, this statement tends to be more of a mixed metaphor than either a metaphor or a simile.