Jennifer Asked: Why Use Metaphors? Here Is My Answer.

First, an apology. When I saw that a lot of students had skipped the Johnson/Spencer post assignment and that most who did do it did not understand it, I reported that I was "surprised and disappointed." I did not say, however, that we had a learning opportunity. I should have. Let's take advantage of that opportunity to increase our knowledge and understanding.

So here is my offering on metaphors.

The very first assignment for blog posts in EDM310 this year was a metaphor: Mr. Winkle Wakes. That metaphor apparently did not throw anyone into a tailspin. And my guess is that everyone would agree that Mr. Needleman's argument was more interesting and more persuasive than if he had not used a metaphor for his video.

Later this week some lucky North Carolina turkey will receive a pardon from the President of the United States. My guess is that all EDM310 students will understand what is being said and why it is being done.

Come Christmas many of you will tell your children that Santa Claus will bring them gifts if they have behaved themselves. And those of you who have children may recall that when asked where they came from you may have indulged in relating the famous abilities of storks.

Jennifer Inscore wrote in her first comment to my post on metaphors: "What is with the metaphor? Why not say exactly what you are trying to discuss? Why not put it into words that we all understand instead of a metaphor. If we are to be educators we should be able to speak to our students in a way that they all understand."

A good question. I would answer it this way:

We use metaphors for several reasons. Metaphors adds interest to what we say and write. Christmas without Santa would not be nearly as much fun. Even after we understand the metaphor.

Metaphors allow us to discuss subjects without having to reveal all there is to know. We can talk about sex without talking about sex. The storks are an example. And don't forget their beaks - open and shut! And John Donne's poems would not be nearly so wonderful, mysterious, evocative, and provocative if they were written without metaphors.

In politics we can talk about a "chicken in every pot" without having to elaborate specifically on what we are promising (and avoid being held accountable as well).

We can discuss religion, and religious subjects, that convey meanings difficult to address with concrete words and terms. Just go back and reread Christ's parables. In fact, examine the entire Bible - from Genesis to Revelation. Metaphors from start to finish!

We can discuss illegal activities in a "polite" way. You may be too young to remember the hit song Puff the Magic Dragon but I bet you know what it was about. The same goes for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds since this is Beatles Week.

Have you ever read The Little Engine That Could? My mother read it to me at least once a day I think. And one of the students in EDM310 this semester reported in her blog how important that book has been to her. A metaphor!

We use metaphors to get us to think about things differently. If we discuss slates or pencils or paper using the same prejudices and arguments that we use in talking about computers we can better understand the absurdity of our positions about computers. Or at least that is the approach taken by Tom Johnson.

In art, we use metaphors and symbols to convey more messages than a picture alone would convey.

So why do we use metaphors? Why do you use metaphors? Because metaphors are very useful and add a lot to our lives and conversations.