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A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase denoting one kind of object or action is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them. Metaphor originally comes from the Greek word metapherein (“to transfer”), which means fitting, since a metaphor is used in place of something. When it comes to give a particular metaphor to literature, one may choose among many mighty metaphors to introduce what literature is! It can be Universe, It can be Algorithm, Phoenix, Ocean, Wings, Sky, Mirror, Axe and what not!? Well I have chose to introduce literature as a "Caged Bird".
As Auden states it in his poem, "All I have is a voice to undo the folded lie, the romantic lie in the brain of the sensual man-in-the-street and the lie of Authority whose buildings grope the sky: There is no such thing as the State and no one exists alone" (September 1, 1939). The cannon of literature is under control of the one who writes it, writers and poets are not always able to escape personal experiences, ideas, and thoughts, even if they succeed to do so, reader needs to see if they have failed to reflect sincerity in their writing or not, because literature captures cultural, political, and historical dynamics of particular timeframe it is written on.
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
When I define my metaphor for literature, I have the concept of freedom in my mind; the one who writes it has freedom of writing the way they want but sometimes literature represents the one who has got caged. there are many struggles and injustices in human lives and literature serves as a bird who sings the songs of uncounseled ones , and the writers themselves unable to escape their personal emotions and thoughts writes about the the songs of freedom. This way literature helps producing catharsis, the concept of "catharsis" originates from Aristotle's Poetics, where he introduced it as a way to explain the purpose of tragedy. In its Greek form, "katharsis," it denotes purification morally, religiously, and medically. In psychological contexts, it entails the release of repressed emotions or trauma. Initially, catharsis was associated with audience members purging their emotional burdens through identification with characters in a play. However, in contemporary society, catharsis extends beyond theatrical experiences to encompass various forms of stress relief. Today, catharsis is commonly understood as a means of alleviating stress, with its psychological and medical benefits recognized by the general populace.
When it is about metaphors, students would never forget I. A. Richards and his Practical criticism, one can deconstruct the metaphor itself as literature has body of writing not the physical one , it serves as a medium only, there are writers and readers who gets inspired by the written form of literature
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