Ellie24  +  191669 Thu, 02 Feb 06 04:55 AM Ok, question.  My co-worker's daughter had an assignment to find a song with a metaphor in it.  Here is the words from the song she chose: Living in the shadows of someone else's dream Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch feels cold to me Living in the nightmare a never ending sleep But now that I am wide awake my chains are finally free Don't feel sorry for me Is this a metaphor??  The teacher told her that this was a HORRIBLE metaphor and that she has no idea what a metaphor is.  I think it sounds like a metaphor... Ellie24 Joined on Thu, Jan 26 2006 New Member 01 Metaphors

	Nef  +  191741 Thu, 02 Feb 06 10:01 AM According to www.dictionary.com, a metaphor is a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated subjects. In a metaphor, a first object is described as being or precisely equal to a second object. I can't come up with the full lyrics of a song with a metaphor in it. But here are a few examples of metaphors: Love is a journey The moon is a balloon The sun is a red wafer in the sky Nef Joined on Sun, Jan 1 2006 California, USA Regular Member 638 Examples of Metaphors, Metaphors

	Mister Micawber  +  192455 Sat, 04 Feb 06 07:25 AM What are the two things that are presumably being directly compared in your song, Anon? Here is some more information about METAPHORS IN CREATIVE WRITING. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,791 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Metaphors, Creative Writing

	CalifJim  +  192583 Sat, 04 Feb 06 05:31 PM The song lyrics in question contain multiple mixed metaphors or metaphoric language but no single consistent metaphor.  "shadows" is metaphoric for negative influences, I assume.  "nightmare" is metaphoric for terrible times, I assume.  "chains" seem to be a reference to some sort of inability to act -- not clear from the context.  At any rate, being free from the chains seems to be equated with being awake.  But "awake" itself is metaphoric for having an understanding or realization (of something -- although it's not clear what).  It's quite a hodge-podge of images, although I wouldn't tell a student it was a horrible example.  Surely there is a more diplomatic way of putting it. Unfortunately, I don't know what to suggest as a better example of a metaphor in a song as I'm not familiar with a lot of songs.  Maybe another member of the Forum will assist. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,399 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Negatives, Metaphors

	Grammar Geek  +  341125 Tue, 20 Mar 07 03:44 AM The idea is that the person is free of the chains. Presumably, the person was not really in bondage, so it is a metaphor. The chains are not what is free. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,660 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Metaphors