Sunday, October 19, 2014

Metaphor and Symbol in "The Dead"

Metaphor in "The Dead"

"I didn't think you were a West Briton."

Tenor: Gabriel

Vehicle: a West Briton

The tenor and vehicle are related because they help further Miss Ivor's argument that Gabriel is an anglophilic or too admiring of England.

The effect of the metaphor on Gabriel is that it causes him to become confused and to wonder how his literary reviews are coming across. The effect on the reader is that, if they are familiar with the term "West Briton", they will understand the strength of the comparison that Miss Ivor is making and how it could be taken to be derogatory in fashion.


Symbol in "The Dead"

Music

"He asked himself what is a woman standing on the stairs in the shadow, listening to distant music, a symbol of. If he were a painter he would paint her in that attitude. Her blue felt hat would show off the bronze of her hair against the darkness and the dark panels of her skirt would show off the light ones. Distant Music he would call the picture if he were a painter."

Tenor: Music

Vehicle: light and dark imagery, attitude, emotion

The vehicle and tenor are related because they help Gabriel use music as a mode of comparison to show the many coloring effects which music can bring to a description.

The effect of the symbol on the reader is that it helps to show the reader how music can represent many different aspects of life such as the lightness and darkness of life, and how music, although auditory in nature, can be used to create a visual image.

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