Name:
Revolutionary Implied Metaphors
A metaphor is a comparison between two unlike things in order to convey figurative meaning. For
example, “The rainy Monday morning was a slow freight train that never seemed to pull into the
station.” The morning is compared to a freight train in order to suggest that it was over-burdened and
slow moving, just as a heavily loaded freight train pulling into a station would be.
An implied metaphor, rather than stating that one thing is another, implies, or suggests this by
describing one thing in the terms of another. For example, “The rainy Monday morning chugged along
slowly on rusty tracks that never seemed to pull into the station.” The speaker never actually says that
the morning is a train, but the words “chugged,” “tracks,” and “station” imply this comparison.
Sample: “The canvas of the early dawn sky was brushed with glowing red and violet light with
streaks of silver clouds.”
What is the sky being compared to here?
What word(s) imply this comparison?
Directions: For each of the quotes below, analyze the implied metaphor and identify the words that
indicate the comparison in each.
“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.” – Thomas Jefferson
What are thoughts compared to in this quote?
What word(s) imply this comparison?
“Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.” – Thomas Jefferson
What is truth compared to in this quote?
What word(s) imply this comparison?
“A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.” - Benjamin Franklin
What is the man compared to in this quote?
What word(s) imply this comparison?
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
What is knowledge compared to in this quote?
What word(s) imply this comparisons?
“Diligence is the mother of good luck.” – Benjamin Franklin
What is good luck compared to in this quote?
What word(s) imply this comparison?
“The doors of wisdom are never shut.” – Benjamin Franklin
What is wisdom compared to in this quote?
What word(s) imply this comparison?