Analogies

The simile, the metaphor, and the analogy are some of the most Whether you write poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, your writing will drastically improve with the use of these literary devices. Understanding the conundrum of simile vs. metaphor will sharpen the impact of your words, while developing a proper analogy will help you develop a much stronger argument. This article aims to give you mastery over these essential literary devices, with definitions, examples, and writing exercises for each device. With a deep understanding of simile vs. metaphor vs. analogy, your writing will take on new depth and clarity. Let’s dive in! Simile vs Metaphor vs Analogy: Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • Simile Definition: The Indirect Comparison The words “simile” and “similar” come from the same root, and that’s exactly what a simile is: a comparison of similar things. Specifically, a simile compares two or more items using “like,” “as,” or another comparative preposition. Also known as an “indirect comparison,” the simile allows writers to explore the many facets of complex ideas. A simile compares two or more items using “like,”“as,” or another comparative preposition. Take these three simile examples: • My cat is as loud as Yankee Stadium. • My cat is soft and fluffy, like a teddy bear. • My cat destroys furniture the way bulldozers destroy buildings. These similes offer very different descriptions, yet coexist quite peacefully in my cat—who is, in fact, loud and soft and destructiv...

Analogy Definition What is an analogy? Here’s a quick and simple definition: An analogy is a comparison that aims to explain a thing or idea by likening it to something else. For example, a career coach might say, "Being the successful boss or CEO of a company is like being an orchestra conductor: just as the conductor needs to stand up front where everyone—even the musicians in the back row—can see him, a good CEO needs to make sure he or she is visible and available to all of the company's employees." The career coach is not saying that CEOs are exactly like orchestra conductors in every way. Rather, comparing CEOs to conductors through analogy allows the coach to articulate an important leadership quality in a memorable way. Some additional key details about analogies: • Analogy has different meanings in the context of different academic fields. For instance, someone studying logic would say that analogy is "an inference that, if two things are similar in some ways, they must also be alike in others." A cognitive scientist or a lawyer would have a different definition altogether. Despite the term's broad usage, this guide will focus solely on the literary definition of analogy summarized above. • Analogy is closely related to metaphor and Analogy Pronunciation Here's how to pronounce analogy: uh- nal-oh-jee Analogy Explained Developing a richer understanding of one thing by comparing it to another is the basic idea behind analogy. Far more than simply an illustrative or...

An easy way to practice solving analogies before the big test! Analogies are a key part on many standardized tests - use this practice and prepare! This activity explains the different analogy types and provides a number of analogies to solve as practice. It can be used as an independent study activity, as a homework assignment, or as prep for a test or quiz. Looking for more test prep resources? Visit the Solving Analogies Solving analogies is a terrific way to sharpen your thinking skills and prepare for standardized tests. An analogy is a type of word problem that consists of two word pairs. To solve the analogy you must find a word that correctly completes the second pair. At first glance, the words in an analogy may seem to have nothing to do with each other, but the words are always logically related. The first pair of words has a relationship similar to the second pair of words. To solve the analogy, you need to figure out that relationship. Example: GRACEFUL : CLUMSY :: HOT : _______ • Read the analogy like this: Graceful is to clumsy as hot is to ‘ blank.’ • Then ask yourself: What's the relationship between graceful and clumsy? These words have opposite meanings – they are antonyms – so the second pair of words must also be antonyms. • Fill in the blank with a word that means the opposite of hot, and you’ve solved the analogy. The best answer is COLD. Common Analogy Types The word pairs in an analogy often have one of the following relationships: Antonyms: Words ...

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When Charles Lazarus replicated successful strategies from the supermarket industry to launch Toys ‘R’ Us (think exhaustive selection, low prices, self-service), he used analogical thinking: He drew lessons from one business setting and applied them to another. Sometimes analogies spark breakthrough strategies—as Toys ‘R’ Us’s successful launch shows. But when analogies are based on surface-level similarities, they can lead managers astray. Consider Enron: By ignoring key differences between natural gas trading and broadband trading, Enron embarked on a diversification scheme that proved disastrous. How to tap the power of analogical thinking while sidestepping its pitfalls? First, articulate the analogy your management team is using to weigh a potential new strategy. Only by making your analogy explicit can you then assess its soundness. Ford Motor Company, for example, examined Dell Computer’s innovative supply chain model before deciding that production similarities between the auto and PC industries were outweighed by differences in industry cost structures. Finally, decide how well your strategy will translate to a new setting—and fine-tune it to address key differences. It’s impossible to make analogies 100% safe. But by employing several straightforward steps, you can boost your chances of avoiding analogical thinking’s dangers—and make smart, successful strategic choices. The Idea in Practice To tap the power of analogical thinking, apply these steps: • Articulate ...

A ll writers aim to engage their audience. And to engage their audience, their writing must be effective. So what are the tricks of the trade to effective writing? There are various elements to great writing, but two fundamental elements are clear communication of ideas and conciseness. One of the best tools a writer has to achieve both is analogy. In this article, we’ll define analogy and distinguish it from other literary devices. We’ll also take a look at some analogy examples in some of the most iconic lines in literature and film and how it has contributed to both. ANALOGY LITERARY DEFINITION What is analogy in literature? An analogy is a literary device used to compare similarities between two unrelated things as a way to make a point through the comparison. Analogies are primarily used to identify similar relationships or to identify similar abstractions between two things or ideas. Analogies are often mistaken for similes and metaphors. While they are similar, analogies differ in that they aim to make a logical argument by showing similarities between two dissimilar things. Analogies can utilize similes or metaphors but are further elaborated on to support in argument or claim. What Does Analogy Mean in Literature? Analogy vs. Metaphor vs. Simile An analogy is often mixed up with other literary devices like Analogy • Creates a relationship based on similarities between two ideas • Generally a longer comparison, more than a sentence • More elaborate or extensive tha...

What is an analogy? What is an analogy? An analogy is a particular kind of rhetorical device that allows people to demonstrate the relationship between various objects or concepts. The word ''analogy'' comes from the ancient Greek analogia meaning ''proportion.'' Part of the word actually comes from the ancient Proto-Indo-European root *leg- meaning ''to collect'' or ''to gather.'' There are many different types of analogies that are used to depict different kinds of relationships. One example of an analogy might be: branch : tree : : arm : person This is the most common way of writing out analogies; the Types of analogies There are several types of analogies that express different kinds of relationships. These include: • Part to whole • Cause to effect • Source to product • Object to purpose • Characteristic • General to specific • User to tool • Sequences • Synonyms • Antonyms It is also possible to create other kinds of analogies with sufficient creativity. There are several literary devices, for instance, that are somewhat connected to analogies in that they also serve to express relationships. Part to Whole Perhaps the most common kind of analogy is the part to whole analogy; many analogy examples fit into this category. The example above about branches and arms is a part to whole analogy. These are relationships between things that compare two sets of objects, both of which are part and whole pairs. Another example of a part to whole analogy is: Florida : America : :...

Metaphors, similes, and analogies are three literary devices used in speech and writing to make comparisons. Each is used in a different way. Identifying the three can get a little tricky sometimes: for example, when it comes to simile vs. metaphor, a simile is actually a subcategory of metaphor, which means all similes are metaphors, but not all metaphors are similes. Knowing the similarities and differences between metaphor, simile, and analogy can help make your use of figurative language stronger.

Analogy Worksheets An analogy is when we compare two things (ideas or things) that are seemingly different in many ways, but have some underlying common characteristic. Many times it displays a high level of skill in writing when they perfect analogy is set forth. Writers can often use analogies to explain complicated processes by relating them to simplistic processes or models. We have a wide range of analogy worksheets available. Click on the links below to be transported to these various analogy related worksheet categories. This skill is basically the active form of personal vocabulary. Analogies are used in everything from IQ tests to job entrance exams to gauge language ability. This wide array of worksheets will help your students explore and eventually master the use of analogies in their own written on spoken language. This takes a great deal of practice to perfect. How Are Analogies Used in Writing? Your basic word analogy is a very common tool used in a writer's toolbox. It can help writer's better explain a concept that would normal be a difficult task be itself. There are two very commonly used literary devices used when drawing up analogies in the narrative form. Similes form a comparison between two ideas or things. Often the comparisons that are drawn up by similes are bold or even a little outlandish. Similes almost always contain the words "as" or "like". An example of a simile: When James dropped the plate it crashed like a lightning strike. Metaphors al...