Science fiction allows us to encounter uncomfortable
subjects through metaphor.
Metaphor: a symbol or idea that stands in for something
else. Sometimes these are quick comparisons; sometimes
the metaphor is extended throughout a piece of writing.
Ex. comparisons: “That man is a tomcat.”
“This situation is a timebomb.”
Ex. extended : Mars Attacks
Mixed metaphors are signs of poor writing.
Ex: “I put down roots and spread my wings.”
“Checkmate! Touchdown! The eagle has landed!”
Allegory: an entire story that exists as a metaphor
Ex.: 1984, Animal Farm, Narnia