Extended Metaphors

The theme of this poem is that we do not need to be the most beautiful and live up to the standards that have been set by society. As long as you can stand alone, strong, and free but still be the best person you can be then you should not be worried about what people are going to say about you. If you feel like you need to live up to these standards then you will feel trapped in and not be yourself. A literary device shown throughout this poem is extended metaphor. The extended metaphor is the author comparing herself (and all humans) to weeds/flowers. It compares the freedom between the two plants, although explaining the experience being a "weed" is full of freedom and excitement. Whereas the experience of the flower that is displayed represents

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A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Metaphors are one of the most common figures of speech found in literature. Not to be confused with similes; metaphors differ by not using words such as "like" or "as" in the comparing process. If you use them correctly, they can make visualizing and understanding a cake–walk for readers. Metaphors aren't just used sentence by sentence. Sometimes whole paragraphs, stanzas, and even entire works of literature are metaphors. These are called "extended metaphors" Examples of extended metaphors can be found in "Romeo and Juliet"– where Romeo creates a trend of comparing Juliet to the sun saying things such as "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief."–, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is just an elaborate metaphor about life and not following what everyone else does to create a more authentic life for yourself, and in "mother to son" by Langston Hughes– which compares a rough staircase to life and its challenges. Metaphors can be found everywhere using all different kinds of forms and lengths. During the puritan era it was common for writers to use religious metaphors. Whether the metaphor only lasted one line or engulfed the entire body of work, almost every story or poem referenced Christianity. Some of

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