Metaphors and Thesis Statements and Bears-Oh, my!

…they don’t have to be so scary.

Technical def: Comparison not

using like or as Better definition: Calling a

thing, person, place, or process by a symbolic name to bring out certain characteristics

Metaphor

Shared qualities create a metaphorical meaning

THING SHARED QUALITIESCONCLUSION

Road Two different outcomes Life choice!

One tougher than the other Choice changes destination

How does this work?

Once you’ve identified a

metaphor, think “what does this remind me of?” or “what are the general characteristics of this?” Then, try to compare it to a thing, person, place, or process that it might represent.

Make inferences!

How do I figure out a metaphor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGPTwkRlHzM

BIRD = ??? WORM = ??? What do these metaphors tell

us about the way this relationship works?

Let’s see if we can figure this out…

What if I say “That test was a bear”?

What about here? (“Dreams” by Langston

Hughes) Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

This first date is a …

Today, I’m …

The metaphor you use can illuminate many drastically different meanings. This is why acknowledging author choice is SO important.

Make your own:

Many people are intimidated by them.

And now for thesis statements

Reflect an underlying message that

the author is sending with the text. (What abstract ideas are implied in the text?)

Be specific, and go beyond the obvious.

Be the main argument of your writing (something you can prove), which everything else supports.

Your thesis needs to…

Ex. I took the road less travelled by and that

has made all the difference.

Thesis: The poem urges readers to form their own paths in life rather than follow the easy route.ORFrost cautions his readers that some choices can’t be unmade once they are made.OR…Your idea here! (Thinking in metaphor helps!)

Say something about life/love/society/culture…

Join a group of 2-3. (One’s ok, too.) One by one, read the setof 8 short poems by John Leman.

Attempt to come up with a thesis for each that makes a claim about the theme of the poem. Write these statements beneath each poem.

Yes, you need to come up with a different thesis for all eight of them. Good luck!

Let’s tackle this bear.