DISCUSSION ON EXTENDED METAPHOR

“Extended metaphor” refers to a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a

series of sentences in a paragraph, or lines in a poem. It unfolds across multiple lines or even paragraphs
of a text, making use of multiple interrelated metaphors within an overarching one.

Example 1:

So while "Life is a highway" is a simple metaphor, it becomes an extended metaphor when you say:
"Life is a highway that takes us through green pastures, vast deserts, and rocky mountains. Sometimes
your car breaks down or you run out of gas, and sometimes you get lost. Friends are the roadmaps that
help you get where you're going." Now you've spread the idea of "life = highway" across multiple
sentences and related ideas, and created an extended metaphor.

All metaphors can be broken down into two elements: a tenor and a vehicle.
The tenor is the thing a metaphor describes.
The vehicle is the thing to which the tenor is compared.

For instance, in the metaphor "Life is a highway," “Life” is the tenor because it's the thing being
described, while "highway" is the vehicle because it's the thing life is being compared to. The metaphor
operates by borrowing  key  attributes from the vehicle and attributing them to the tenor. The "Life is a
highway" metaphor takes the attributes of a highway—including its association with journeys,
adventures, speed, and the fact that we all travel them side-by-side—and connects them to life.

The Structure of Extended Metaphors

Extended metaphors have a main tenor and vehicle that make up the overarching or primary metaphor,
but they also make use of other tenors and vehicles as the metaphor becomes more elaborate. Let's
continue to use this example:

“Life is a highway that takes us through green pastures, vast deserts, and rocky mountains. Sometimes
your car breaks down or you run out of gas, and sometimes you get lost. Friends are the roadmaps that
help you get where you're going.”

Within the overarching metaphor of "life is a highway," several other metaphors make up the extended
metaphor, and each one has its own tenor and vehicle: the various stages of life are like the varied
landscapes of a large country/green pastures, vast deserts and rocky mountains; the  challenges of
life are like car troubles/car breakdown, running out of gas and getting lost;  friends are like road maps.

Example 2:

As an example, if you wanted to explain (primary/overarching metaphor) how a traditional publishing

house works with an author, you might compare it to a football team like so:

(Secondary metaphors)
The author is the quarterback, making the plays and taking the glory;
The acquiring editor is the coach, calling the shots and giving the QB a team that compliments his skill
set; and
The proofreader is the offensive tackle, protecting the ball-carrier from outside attacks.
The publicist is the punter… helping the team get better field position after a few setbacks.
So an extended metaphor must contain different tenors and vehicles, that together fit into the
metaphor of the overarching tenor and vehicle.

Example 3:

"A fire broke out," you might say, "The flames of the fire shot up faster than a trio of lightning bolts."

If you want to intensify the scene with a fire breaking out, you might say:
“The flames of the fire shot up faster than a trio of lightning bolts.
The thunderous roar of the ceiling's collapse was loud enough to wake the dead. In a moment's
time, I learned Clare knew how to drive, and I mean really drive. The flames nipped at our rear
bumper but not even those lightning bolts could catch us now.”

Without question, extended metaphors are more complex than regular metaphors. They're not only
lengthier, they also contain multiple layers. There will be a primary/overarching metaphor (e.g., the
flames and the lightning bolts) and secondary layers of metaphors (e.g., the thunderous roar of the
ceiling's collapse).