LessonsDefinitions of Literal and Figurative Use and the Technical Divisions of MetaphorQuiz

Use four stages to classify a difficult expression:
1. Assigned sense: Identify its meaning in the governing convention.
2. Intended meaning: Determine the speaker's aim from context.
3. Relation and clue: Identify the semantic connection and the indication blocking a literal reading.
4. Mode of transfer: Decide whether the figure rests on resemblance, another relation, imagined predication, or transfer of an entire scene.

“Take this horse” with a book gesture may be an error; “a lion preaching” has a coherent resemblance; “the claws of death” points to an unstated predator and an imagined attribution.

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A four-stage analysis for difficult examples

Definitions of Literal and Figurative Use and the Technical Divisions of Metaphor

Use four stages to classify a difficult expression:
1. Assigned sense: Identify its meaning in the governing convention.
2. Intended meaning: Determine the speaker's aim from context.
3. Relation and clue: Identify the semantic connection and the indication blocking a literal reading.
4. Mode of transfer: Decide whether the figure rests on resemblance, another relation, imagined predication, or transfer of an entire scene.

“Take this horse” with a book gesture may be an error; “a lion preaching” has a coherent resemblance; “the claws of death” points to an unstated predator and an imagined attribution.