All of the above examples are clichés and all are metaphors.
The language is metaphorical – not literally true. If it were
true, all three characters would be dead and we know that is
not what is meant.
The moon is a silver ball in the dark sky.This is a metaphor but if ‘like’ is added, it becomes a simile:
The moon islike a silver ball in the dark sky.Metaphorsandsimilesboth add interest to your writing but
they should be used sparingly.
Personifying inanimate objects
To personify means to give an inanimate object human
characteristics. Look at the following examples:
The sun walked across the sky in her golden shoes.
The table groaned under the weight of the food.Both usepersonification. The sun ‘walks’ and wears ‘golden
shoes’. The table ‘groans’. They are also metaphors as they
are not literally true.
The use of thefigures of speechwe have just discussed, is
common in prose writing and adds to the interest.Prose
is written and spoken language that does not have a regular
beat or rhyme as some poetry does.
IMPROVING YOUR STYLE / 89