What is an Analogy?
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An analogy is a literary tool in which the author compares several unrelated things for their common traits. In contrast to a simile/metaphor, it does. Not belong to the figures of speech. Experts define an analogy as a powerful rhetorical tool that can be useful while making rational points and supporting opinion through demonstrating connections and similarities between objects that are not similar in general.
Analogy Definition
What does analogy mean? Have you ever tried to explain things that someone does not understand using words that they know for sure? Have you ever compared people with specific qualities to some animals? That is what an analogy is about, and there are several types of this literary device.
Define Analogy through Different Types of This Tool
A literal analogy is used to show that one object does really have a lot in common with another. In a persuasive or argumentative essay, this type of analogy can be helpful. As you know, researchers often conduct experiments on lab animals before testing drugs on human beings. They explain it by the fact our organisms are actually similar.
Figurative Analogy Meaning
A figurative analogy is about comparing a couple or more unrelated objects in order to stress a specific trait that they share. The compared topics are not necessarily similar. The luck often is compared to the coin that has two sides. It’s all about losing or winning in both cases. At the same time, we cannot say that a coin is somehow a synonym of luck.
False Analogy
A faulty analogy is a fallacy that evaluates a couple of subjects that are alike in one or a few respects, but they can be absolutely different in some other respects.
When Cell Analogy and Other Similar Comparisons Can Be Effective
The analogy is a famous and useful rhetorical technique. It helps to carry out logical arguments and contrasts. Here are some ways to apply analogies in your worksheets or essays.
- Come up with abstract points more specifically
Professional writers and university professors may find it effective to use analogies in their scholarly works. If you explain complicated ideas for a living, you may follow their example. Think about what your audience is 100% familiar with and use an analogy to interpret the meaning of more complex subjects. A good example during the science class could be: “Any blood cell play the same role as police in our city.”
- Make an image deeper and more emotional
A strong image may bring vivid descriptions to one’s mind. Most probably, you will agree that saying something like, “He was depressed and bored” is rather dull. However, if you make it this way, it might work to keep the audience reading:
“James felt like a lonely tree standing in the middle of his childhood farm. Even though he was still feeling the warmth of his mother’s hands and taste of her bakery, he realized he would never see her again as we can never see our back without a mirror.”
- Craft a persuasive claim
An analogy can help to state an argument and even convince the audience of your truth. If you would like to demonstrate the flawed reasoning in another claim.
Examples: Analogy Examples
If you are thinking about adding an analogy to your project, have a look at this list of examples to understand what this device is about.
- “The cytoplasmis like the air inside the house that is located outside of the guest room.”
- “Finding my glasses in this mess is like finding a needle in a haystack.”
- “Explaining an idiom to this audience is like dissecting a frog.”
- “That cartoon was a roller coaster ride of emotions.”
- “Life is like a lottery – you’ll never know what you get for sure.”
You can come up with your own analogies. You should not necessarily use the existing ones, but these examples are still useful for any student or young writer.