Meaning & use
central metaphor
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Meaning
nouncountableformalliterary
The main metaphor that gives a text or idea its overall meaning or structure.
Grammar: Countable noun: a central metaphor, the central metaphor of the novel.
Patterns
- the central metaphor of something
- a central metaphor for something
In the novel, the central metaphor is the river, which stands for the flow of time.
The poet uses the central metaphor of a journey to describe life.
The film's central metaphor is that society is a machine.
Word forms
| plural | central metaphors |
|---|
Common combinations
- the central metaphor of the play
- The central metaphor of the play is the stage itself as a mirror of reality.
- use something as a central metaphor
- The author uses the desert as a central metaphor for emptiness.
- a central metaphor for something
- The storm is a central metaphor for the character's inner turmoil.
Synonyms and how they differ
- guiding metaphor
- A guiding metaphor is similar but emphasizes that it directs the work; central metaphor simply means it is the main one.
- controlling metaphor
- A controlling metaphor is a literary term for a metaphor that shapes the entire work; central metaphor is a more general term.
Commonly confused: central metaphor or central theme?
central metaphor vs central theme
A central theme is the main idea or message, while a central metaphor is the main image or comparison used to express that idea.
Practice
What is a central metaphor in a literary work?
Choose one answer.
A central metaphor is the main comparison or image that gives the work its overall meaning. The other options are other literary elements, not a metaphor.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “central metaphor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.