LessonsFamiliar and Distinctive Metaphor: Obvious Resemblance and Artful RarityQuiz

The first illustration describes a disciplined horse that remains standing while its rider dismounts and places the reins over the front of the saddle. The pose of the reins and saddle is pictured through a seated human posture.

The image cannot be understood by focusing on a single rare noun: the locations of the saddle pommel, reins, and bit must be visualized together.

The horse’s training is the subject matter; the metaphor’s technical novelty lies in noticing the resemblance between the tack’s arrangement and the posture called iḥtibāʾ.

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The horse scene before the metaphor

Familiar and Distinctive Metaphor: Obvious Resemblance and Artful Rarity

The first illustration describes a disciplined horse that remains standing while its rider dismounts and places the reins over the front of the saddle. The pose of the reins and saddle is pictured through a seated human posture.

The image cannot be understood by focusing on a single rare noun: the locations of the saddle pommel, reins, and bit must be visualized together.

The horse’s training is the subject matter; the metaphor’s technical novelty lies in noticing the resemblance between the tack’s arrangement and the posture called iḥtibāʾ.