Scribbles and bits challenge #31
Hey Scribblers! Today we are going to take one of a writer's major tools out of the toolbox: the metaphor. but not just any metaphor: extended metaphor.
Extended Metapahor is when you establish a thematic metaphor and then use attributes and characteristics of it as reinforcing, secondary metaphors. I'll give you an example from a sermon of mine.. please consider it only in literary terms.
I considered the Church as a harbor, a safe place for boats.. a metaphor for people.. to find shelter from the storms on the sea of life.. another metaphor. but the harbor isn't safe without jetties.. and I used the metaphors of faith and fellowship. and they need to be tied together by a bridge.. I used the metaphor of missions.
the harbor must have a source of fresh water or marine borers will attack the ships and marine growth will clog the harbor. I used Love as the fresh water.. selfishness, greed, and lust as the marine borers.. and vanity and santicimoniousness as the marine growth.
I could take it further.. Scripture as a lighthouse, the Pastor as harbormaster.. but you get the idea.
Soooo... your challenge is to write something using extended metaphor. any length any genre.. and when you've posted copy your address bar and paste it here as a comment so we can all lavish metaphors on your work.
Write on Scribblers.. and make me proud!
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Comments
SEC
Ooooog!
February 25, 2013pastormike
look to scripture.. a very large portion is extended metaphor. It is a really powerful creative tool..
February 25, 2013SEC
I had family and childhood come to mind.
February 25, 2013pastormike
loaded with possibilities..
February 25, 2013SEC
Errrrg!
February 25, 2013pastormike
there’s the obvious God as father, we as chldren and then all the corallaries of that.. or compare family of yesteryear to now or family to nation or…
February 25, 2013SEC
http://scribblative.thoughts.com/posts/scribbles-bits-31-isn-t-it-ironic
February 25, 2013pastormike
that works! welll done!
February 25, 2013SEC
Okay I went to the book in the reference you cited that I am participating in a study and came across this that fits the criteria. Can you identify?
March 01, 2013Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when men rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;
when men are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags himself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then man goes to his eternal home
and mourners go about the streets.
Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
or the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
or the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
pastormike
Ecclesiastes 12. yes.. an excellent example of extended metaphor. the hebrew poetry structute here of “Parallelism”.. stating, then restating and then drawing a conclusion often uses metaphor. the whole book is pretty much an extended metaphor.. He sets the theme in his opening “Vanity, all is vanity” (although I like the message bible’s ‘“smoke and mirrors” or the Cottonpatch Gospel’s “it’s all baloney.” my own personal translation is the Yiddish word “Bubkes”)
March 01, 2013SEC
I like the alternative translations of the Hebrew word that was translated “vanity” they are vapor, breath, wind, or emptiness.
March 01, 2013pastormike
the traditional definition of "bubkes’ is “what you get in a crackerjacks box”.. all of these convey the idea.. life has no real value..
March 01, 2013Nightsong
here’s my answer to posed challenge, let’s hope we find and use the key
February 25, 2013to ‘esolve our dilemma’s conundrums of enigmatic mystery!
http://nightsong.thoughts.com/posts/puzzling-humanity-scribbles-bits-31
pastormike
excellent! nicely understated metaphor..
February 25, 2013gingernice
Thank You pastormike, but we had a visiting preacher and that is what he preach on and I just thought it was worth passing on.
February 25, 2013pastormike
just noticed it works nicely for this challenge..
February 25, 2013proudmomma8
http://amandasmusic8.thoughts.com/posts/who-will-save-your-soul
February 28, 2013pastormike
good choice of lyrics.. thanks!
February 28, 2013proudmomma8
thank you
February 28, 2013proudmomma8
I got the inspiration from the song
March 01, 2013pastormike
that’s a good way. I’ve done the same a few times.. good choice.
March 01, 2013proudmomma8
March 01, 2013
pastormike
my take: http://pastormike.thoughts.com/posts/scribbles-and-bits-challenge-31-time-warp
March 01, 2013TomasSISI
I left a late one too. http://tomassisi.thoughts.com/posts/scribbles-challenge-31-symbolism-and-metaphors
March 02, 2013pastormike
an excellent musing on the truth within the metaphor.. well done!
March 02, 2013