Scrolling through tumblr (an awfully wonderful website to kill time), I stumbled upon these attempts at writing analogies and nearly fell off my chair. Though many of these deserve a pat on the back for creativity, they lack clear logic that can be understood by other people. There is a difference between being creative and being clever; the above showcases little of the latter. So how do we create clever analogies that capture instead of exclude our readers?
First, what is an analogy? According to Butte College, “an analogy is an extended comparison between two things usually thought of as unlike. Analogies illustrate and explain by moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar, comparing several points, each of which has a counterpoint.” So, referring to the picture and one of above analogies, “the lamp just sat there, like an inanimate object” does not work as an analogy because “the lamp” is being compared to a similar object, “an inanimate object.” Here, there is no contrast because the lamp is an inanimate object (unless he/she actually owns a living lamp… in which case, such an important detail should be included).
Moreover, an analogy is meant for further illustration or clarification of a point. We do not want to test our readers’ imaginations or sense of reason. Therefore, analogies should make logical sense that helps the reader understand a point instead of estranging them. A good way of gauging the limits of your analogy-making is by knowing your audience; who is reading this, and will they be able to connect A to B? Analogies can be tricky because certain words carry different connotations or meanings for different people. So, be wary of this discrepancy and remember that your analogy should be written as simple and accessible as possible (to capture a weighty idea) because, ultimately, analogies are meant to shed light on an abstract concept. To write an abstract analogy (as some the examples above) loses the audience and does not help the reader make a connection or gain an understanding of what you are trying to communicate.
Some examples of good analogies are:
1) “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
2) “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
― Joseph Addison
3) “Without inspiration, we’re all like a box of matches that will never be lit.”
― David Archuleta, Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance
For more advice on how to create “killer” analogies, visit this blog.
Post submitted by: Christina Trieu