Metaphor or something else?

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BronnyG
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Metaphor or something else?

Post by BronnyG »

Hi there!
Would this be considered a metaphor?
"Facts in his eyes are over, a relic from the age of the printing press."
There is no "is" but could the comma act as one?
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Joe
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by Joe »

"is" or no "is", this sentence makes no sense. What does "over" mean?
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BronnyG
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by BronnyG »

'Over' means facts are done for. They don't exist.
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Joe
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by Joe »

Do you mean they are not important?
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

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Joe
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by Joe »

The sentence structure itself is ok. The word "is" is not necessary. In fact (if I dare use that word :roll: ) it would be wrong.

So without getting into whether facts exist or not, I'll leave you to choose your words...

Facts in his eyes are done for, a relic from the age of the printing press. :ok:
Facts in his eyes are unimportant, a relic from the stoneage. :ok:

...and a thousand other combinations.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

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Joe
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by Joe »

But to answer your first question, I don't see it as a metaphor. Just a statement of "fact"...as someone believes it to be.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

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BronnyG
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by BronnyG »

Thank you for your help! If the whole sentence is not seen as a metaphor, then would "a relic from the age of the printing press" be a simile?
P.S. the sentence is takes from an extract that I have to analyse :)
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Joe
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by Joe »

It's certainly not a simile (which involves "like" or "as...as"). And I don't see it as a metaphor. I take the words literally, not metaphorically.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

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Joe
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Re: Metaphor or something else?

Post by Joe »

On second thoughts, maybe "relic" is attempting to be a metaphor. The whole concept is contentious and I find the sentence bizarre :roll: So if you have to analyze it, perhaps the answer needed actually is metaphor.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

eBooks: English Prepositions List | Essential Business Words | Learn English in Seven
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