short analogy essay example

Definition of Analogy

An analogy is a figure of speech that creates a comparison by showing how two seemingly different entities are alike, along with illustrating a larger point due to their commonalities. As a literary device, the purpose of analogy is not just to make a comparison, but to provide an explanation as well with additional information or context . This makes analogy a bit more complex than similar literary devices such as metaphor and simile . Analogy is an effective device in terms of providing a new or deeper meaning to concepts through the artistic use of language.

For example, the analogy  nose is to olfactory as ear is to auditory makes a comparison between parts of the body that are related to certain senses and the words to describe the senses themselves. “Olfactory” refers to the sense of smell, which is related to “nose.” “Auditory” refers to the sense of hearing, which is related to “ear.” Of course, the writer could use the analogy  nose is to smell as ear is to hear for a similar comparison. However, the description words of olfactory and auditory create a deeper meaning and sense of the relationship between these parts of the body and the senses.

Common Examples of Analogy

Many people are introduced to analogy as a form of word relationship that demonstrates the associations between two object or concept pairs on the basis of logic or reasoning. The phrasing for these analogies is generally “(first word) is to (second word) as (third word) is to (fourth word)” or “baby is to adult as kitten is to cat.” Here are some common examples of verbal analogies:

• blue is to color as circle is to shape
• eyes are to sight as fingers are to touch
• cub is to bear and calf is to cow
• sand is to beach as water is to ocean
• glove is to hand as sock is to foot
• ripple is to pond as wave is to ocean
• words are to writing as notes are to music
• fish are to aquariums as animals are to zoos
• fingers are to snapping as hands are to clapping
• petal is to flower as leaf is to tree

Famous Examples of Analogy

Think you haven’t heard of any famous analogies? Here are some recognizable examples of this figure of speech by well-known writers and speakers :

• That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet ( William Shakespeare )
• And I began to let him go. Hour by hour. Days into months. It was a physical sensation, like letting out the string of a kite. Except that the string was coming from my center. (Augusten Burroughs)
• It has been well said that an author who expects results from a first novel is in a position similar to that of a man who drops a rose petal down the Grand Canyon of Arizona and listens for the echo. (P.G. Wodehouse)
• Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. (Mary Schmich)
• Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff – it is a palliative rather than a remedy. (Peter De Vries)
• Withdrawal of U.S. troops will become like salted peanuts to the American public; the more U.S. troops come home, the more will be demanded. (Henry Kissinger)
• People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. (Elisabeth Kubler-Ross)
• A nation wearing atomic armor is like a knight whose armor has grown so heavy he is immobilized; he can hardly walk, hardly sit his horse, hardly think, hardly breathe. The H-bomb is an extremely effective deterrent to war, but it has little virtue as a weapon of war because it would leave the world uninhabitable. (E.B. White)

Examples of Analogy by Thomas Carlyle

Thomas Carlyle was a British writer, historian, philosopher, and mathematician of the 19th Century. His writings often featured analogies that have since appeared in standardized tests of advanced placement English, among others. Carlyle’s analogies are thought-provoking as comparisons and valuable for analysis. Here are some examples:

• Under all speech that is good for anything, there lies a silence that is better. Silence is deep as Eternity; speech is shallow as Time.
• No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men.
• It has been well said that the highest aim in education is analogous to the highest aim in mathematics, namely, to obtain not results but powers, not particular solutions, but the means by which endless solutions may be wrought.
• What we become depends on what we read after all of the professors have finished with us. The greatest university of all is a collection of books.
• Music is well said to be the speech of angels; in fact, nothing among the utterances allowed to man is felt to be so divine. It brings us near to the infinite.
• The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.
• Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance – the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.
• Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of man you are.

Difference Between Analogy, Metaphor, and Simile

Analogies, similes, and metaphors are all figures of speech used to create comparisons between different entities. These literary devices are often confused with each other, though they can be distinguished. A simile utilizes the words “like” or “as” to make a comparison. A metaphor uses figurative language to compare two things by stating that one is the other. An analogy creates a comparison with the intent of explanation or indicating a larger point.

Here are some examples to help differentiate between these three literary devices:

• Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup.– This is an analogy . It explains the abstract relationship between memory and love by making a comparison between the tangible and familiar relationship between a cup and saucer. Though these entities are different in terms of abstract concepts and tangible items, they are alike in the sense that a saucer holds and supports a cup as memory holds and supports love. This analogy provides an interesting image of the relationship between memory and love through the artistic comparison to the saucer and cup.
• Memory and love are like a saucer and cup. –This figure of speech is a Simile . The presence of the word “like” is the basis of the comparison.
• Memory and love are a saucer and cup. –This is an example of a Metaphor . The language used in this metaphor is figurative in the sense that the reader knows that memory and love are not literally a saucer and cup. Instead, the example is making a comparison by linking them directly–that one is the other.

Analogy, simile, and metaphor are all useful and related literary devices for writers to make comparisons. The intention of these devices and their wording is what differentiates them from each other.

Writing Analogy

Overall, as a literary device, analogy functions as a means of comparing entities and enhancing the clarity of one entity through connection with the other. This is effective for readers in that analogies create imagery and a deeper understanding of concepts. Therefore, this can enhance the meaning and understanding of a literary work or theme by using artistic language to present ideas in a new way.

There are two primary types of analogy:

• Identification of identical relationships: Like the word relationships featured above, Greek scholars utilized analogies as direct illustrations of similar relationships between word pairings. These analogies identify identical word relationships based in logic and for the purpose of reasoned argument . They also enhance connections for readers between the meanings of words and concepts.
• Identification of shared abstraction: This type of analogy creates comparisons between two things that appear unrelated but share an attribute or pattern. The purpose of these analogies is to utilize a reader’s current knowledge of something familiar and connect it to an abstract idea so that it is more concrete in comparison.

Writers benefit from incorporating analogies into their work for the purpose of explaining and connecting ideas for their readers. It’s important for writers to understand that an effective analogy is one in which the comparison is logical and easily understood. An analogy that made an unreasonable or illogical comparison would be an improper use of the literary device.

Types of Analogy: Literal and Figurative

There are two types of analogy. One is literal and the other is figurative. In literal analogy, the comparison is literal, as one thing is stated to be similar to the other. It is used for persuasion in an argument. However, the figurative analogy is based on some features and properties. It mostly occurs through metaphors and similes. Both of these figures of speech are used in figurative analogies.

Types of Analogy in Writing

Analogy occurs at two levels in writing. The first one is the comparison of relationships. Two things are set side by side and their relationship is identified through the use of similes. The second analogical writing is about abstract ideas as two ideas are compared with each other by setting them side by side.

Use of Analogy in Sentences

• Searching for a chicken in Granma’s soup is like searching for a turtle in the ocean.
• Abbie’s like a squeaky mouse when she’s on the stage.
• Water is to the lake as lava is to the volcano.
• Pedals are to the bicycle as oars are to the boat.
• Flow is for water as the break is for solid.
• Drive : Steer :: Live : Breathe (A few analogies used for critical thinking are written in this form)

Examples of Analogy in Literature

Analogy is an effective literary device as a method of creating comparisons and developing meaning. Here are some examples of analogy and the way it enhances the significance of well-known literary works:

Example 1: There is no Frigate like a Book by Emily Dickinson

There is No Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away Nor any Coursers like a Page Of prancing Poetry – This Traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of Toll – How frugal is the Chariot That bears the Human Soul –

Example 2: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

In this stanza , Thomas utilizes several literary devices, including metaphor and simile. As a whole, these lines create an analogy for death. “The dying of the light” signifies death, and that moment is compared to both blindness and sight. This creates a deeper meaning as the poet calls for “rage” against this moment to fight against blindness towards the unknown and the clarity of vision that comes with death.

Example 3: A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers by Henry David Thoreau

This world is but a canvas to our imaginations.

In this analogy, Thoreau compares the world to a canvas in terms of human imagination. To a degree, Thoreau could have created a more abstract comparison by stating that the world is but a canvas, which would have implied creativity, art, beauty in nature, and so on. Instead, he provides the added context of imagination. This allows for clarity as to what Thoreau is trying to convey to his readers, yet the analogy is still comprised of artistic and figurative language.

Synonyms of Analogy

Like other literary devices, it has close synonyms such as likeness, similarity, resemblance, or similitude could prove its synonyms.

Related posts:

• Importance of Analogy and How to Write with Examples

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Analogy Definition

What is an analogy? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

An analogy is a comparison that aims to explain a thing or idea by likening it to something else. For example, a career coach might say, "Being the successful boss or CEO of a company is like being an orchestra conductor: just as the conductor needs to stand up front where everyone— even the musicians in the back row—can see him, a good CEO needs to make sure he or she is visible and available to all of the company's employees." The career coach is not saying that CEOs are exactly like orchestra conductors in every way. Rather, comparing CEOs to conductors through analogy allows the coach to articulate an important leadership quality in a memorable way.

Some additional key details about analogies:

• Analogy has different meanings in the context of different academic fields. For instance, someone studying logic would say that analogy is "an inference that, if two things are similar in some ways, they must also be alike in others." A cognitive scientist or a lawyer would have a different definition altogether. Despite the term's broad usage, this guide will focus solely on the literary definition of analogy summarized above.
• Analogy is closely related to metaphor and simile . Sources vary in how they define the relationship between these terms, but most can agree that metaphor and simile are types of analogy.

Analogy Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce analogy: uh- nal -oh-jee

Analogy Explained

Developing a richer understanding of one thing by comparing it to another is the basic idea behind analogy. Far more than simply an illustrative or explanatory technique, analogies are fundamental to the way people think. The writer Douglas Hofstadter even went so far as to say that analogy is "the core of cognition," suggesting that the most fundamental tool we have for understanding the world is the ability to make comparisons between things.

What Makes an Analogy

Analogies can be broken down into two elements: the target and the source . The target is the unknown concept—the thing that the analogy seeks to explain—while the source (also referred to as the analog ) is the known concept, or the thing used to explain the target.

For example, if you've ever seen the Disney movie Shrek , you may remember the phrase "ogres are like onions." In a memorable scene, the ogre (Shrek) tries to explain something about the true nature of ogres to his non-ogre friend by saying:

"Ogres are like onions... Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. You get it? We both have layers."

Shrek creates an analogy comparing the source (something familiar and known, in this case an onion) to the target (something mysterious and unknown, in this case ogres). His goal is to reveal something about ogres (the unfamiliar target ) by showing that he's not so different from onions (the familiar source ) . Not all analogies are as cut-and-dry as this one, but Shrek's comparison is a good example of the basic structure of analogies. Keep in mind, it's perfectly acceptable to analyze analogies without talking about targets and sources—but these terms can be helpful in understanding the structure of analogies, especially with more complicated examples.

Analogy, Metaphor, and Simile

Analogy, metaphor and simile are all similar in that they all have to do with making comparisons. But there's some debate about the precise nature of the relationship between these three concepts. There are two main camps in this debate:

• The first camp believes that metaphor and simile are types of analogies.
• The second camp believes that metaphor and simile are not types of analogies, but distinct tools that can be used to articulate analogy.

Camp 1: Metaphors and Similes are Types of Analogies

Members of this camp see analogies as a broader category into which metaphors and similes fit. They would say that metaphors are implicit analogies, while similes are explicit analogies. In other words, metaphors implicitly perform the function of analogy—pointing out similarities between two different things—by saying that something is something else. For example, "Juliet is the sun." People in the first camp would argue that the metaphor "Juliet is the sun" is a type of analogy because it operates by making an implicit comparison, such as "Juliet and the sun are similar; just like the sun, Juliet is radiant and fills Romeo's days with light." Meanwhile, first-campers would say that the simile "Juliet is like the sun" is also a type of analogy because it draws a comparison explicitly by saying that something is like something else in some respect: "Juliet is beautiful like the sun."

Camp 2: Metaphors and Similes are Tools for Making Analogies

The second camp, however, would say that the metaphor "Juliet is the sun" does not count as analogy. Instead, they would say that the metaphor is being used as a tool to support the distinct and overarching analogy between a woman and the sun. Similarly, second-campers would say that the sentence "Juliet is beautiful like the sun" is a simile which supports the overall analogy comparing Juliet to a celestial body.

The second camp argues that analogy is distinct from metaphors and similes. It argues that analogy is a rational type of argument or explanation—that analogy is the actual conceptual comparison being made. In contrast, it argues that metaphor and simile are figures of speech —that is, they are literary devices or tools whose purpose is to describe something with figurative language rather than to explain or argue something.

However, this distinction can start to seem fuzzy when you start to ask where "describing" ends and "explaining" begins. When Romeo says that "Juliet is the sun," isn't he—in addition to describing her beauty— e xplaining to the reader his love for Juliet by comparing it to the sun?

Summing up the Camp 1 and Camp 2 Debate

It's not necessarily the case that one camp's view is better or more proper than the other, but the first camp's definition of the relationship between analogy, metaphor, and simile is more common—if only because it's not as rigid as the second camp's definition. That said, you only need to know that there are these competing definitions, and then be able to say why you think a given example is an analogy, simile, or metaphor based on the definition you think best fits each term.

Analogy Examples

Analogy in shakespeare's romeo and juliet.

In this example from Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , Juliet Capulet puzzles over the main obstacle in her love for Romeo Montague: the Capulet and Montague families are rivals. She creates an analogy comparing Romeo to a rose, reasoning that just as the "sweetness" or loveliness of a rose is entirely independent of its name, the "perfection" she sees in Romeo is independent of—and not at all compromised by— his name and family:

’Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title.

Analogy in Shakespeare's As You Like It

The melancholy character Jaques crafts the following analogy in Act 2 Scene 7 of As You Like It . In one of the most famous lines from all of Shakespeare, Jaques compares the world to stage, and each individual to an actor playing a part that changes with age.

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth...

Jaques concludes his speech by describing the remaining three "parts" or "seven ages": those of the Just Leader, The Silly Old Man who thinks he's still young, and the Truly Old Man who's as helpless as a baby. Using this analogy to compare "the world" to "a stage," and by extension "life" to "a play," allows Jaques to point out what he sees as a fundamental aspect of both real and theatrical experience: performance. These lines function as a particularly powerful analogy when read aloud in the theater, because they simultaneously demand that audience members confront the ways in which they're performing their own lives, remind them of their own mortality, and collapse the traditional boundary between actors on the stage and the audience watching them.

Analogy in Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

In Chapter 26 of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance , the narrator attempts to describe his philosophical world view by drawing an analogy between knowledge and a train.

The narrator's concept of "Quality" refers to a holistic, balanced manner of existing in the world. The narrator believes that in modern life, we often fail to achieve Quality because we create an artificial distinction between an artistic, "Romantic" way of living life—being "in the moment," not stopping to analyze or reflect on things—and a scientific, "Classical" way of living life which involves analyzing how pragmatic things (like technology) work. Through the analogy of the Train, the narrator argues that both the Classical and Romantic modes of thought are necessary to living a balanced life in pursuit of Quality:

In my mind now is an image of a huge, long railroad train...In terms of the analogy, Classic Knowledge, the knowledge taught by the Church of Reason, is the engine and all the boxcars. All of them and everything that’s in them. If you subdivide the train into parts you will find no Romantic Knowledge anywhere. And unless you’re careful it’s easy to make the presumption that’s all the train there is. This isn’t because Romantic Knowledge is non-existent or even unimportant. It’s just that so far the definition of the train is static and purposeless...The real train of knowledge isn’t a static entity that can be stopped and subdivided. It’s always going somewhere. On a track called Quality...Romantic reality is the cutting edge of experience. It’s the leading edge of the train of knowledge that keeps the whole train on the track... The leading edge is where absolutely all the action is. The leading edge contains all the infinite possibilities of the future. It contains all the history of the past. Where else could they be contained?...At the leading edge there are no subjects. No objects, only the track of Quality ahead, and if you have no formal way of evaluating, no way of acknowledging this Quality, then the train has no way of knowing where to go.

Just as a train can't exist without its engine, its boxcars, or its lead locomotive, so too—the narrator argues—Quality cannot be pursued without applying both Classical and Romantic knowledge in a balanced way. This is a long and, obviously, complex example of analogy.

Analogy in Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger

The White Tiger tells the story of Balram Halwai, a self-made entrepreneur who (somewhat illegally) works his way up from the bottom rungs of the social ladder in Indian society. In Chapter 5, Balram introduces the analogy of the Rooster Coop to explain how members of the Indian elite repress the poor:

The greatest thing to come out of this country in the ten thousand years of its history is the Rooster Coop. Go to Old Delhi, behind the Jama Masjid, and look at the way they keep chickens there in the market. Hundreds of pale hens and brightly coloured roosters, stuffed tightly into wire-mesh cages, packed as tightly as worms in a belly, pecking each other and shitting on each other, jostling just for breathing space; the whole cage giving off a horrible stench – the stench of terrified, feathered flesh. On the wooden desk above this coop sits a grinning young butcher, showing off the flesh and organs of a recently chopped-up chicken, still oleaginous with a coating of dark blood. The roosters in the coop smell the blood from above. They see the organs of their brothers lying around them. They know they’re next. Yet they do not rebel. They do not try to get out of the coop. The very same thing is done with human beings in this country.

Balram uses the concrete, ordinary image of a rooster coop to explain the invisible but cruel forces constraining India's poor from making social progress. Not only does he use the rooster coop as an analog for his country, but he also uses it to justify his own behavior throughout the novel.

Why Do Writers Use Analogies?

Writers, and people in general, use analogies for a wide variety of reasons:

• To explain a new, unfamiliar concept in relatable and easy-to-understand terms.
• To help the reader make a new, insightful connection between two different entities.
• To appeal to the reader's sense of reason or logic when proving a point.

The anthropologist Mark Nichter once said (using an analogy) that "a good analogy is like a plow which can prepare a population's field of associations for the planting of a new idea." In other words, analogies pull together information and knowledge we have already stored to create novel combinations, which become the foundation for new ideas.

Other Helpful Analogy Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Analogy: A very wide-ranging yet thorough explanation of analogy and its varied uses across disciplines.
• The Dictionary Definition of Analogy: A basic definition and etymology of the term—it comes from the Greek analogia meaning "proportion."
• Analogy in action: An interesting article from Entrepreneur Magazine entitled, "4 Leadership Lessons Learned From Orchestra Conductors."
• Analogy on Youtube: The "Ogres are like Onions" scene from Disney's Shrek .

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What is an Analogy? Definition, Examples of Analogies in Literature

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is an Analogy? Definition, Examples of Analogies in Literature

Analogy definition: An analogy is a comparison between two things that are quite different in nature. An analogy often explains a complex subject with one that is simpler or more familiar.

What is an Analogy?

What does analogy mean? An analogy is a comparison between two things. By nature, those two things are quite different from each other.

An analogy looks at complex subjects and simplifies them through comparison. The simplified or more familiar aspect of an analogy helps a reader understand the more complex concept.

An analogy may be as short as a sentence or as long as a few paragraphs.

Analogy Example:

Here is a familiar example of an analogy (which also happens to be an English idiom) is:

• The grass is always greener on the other side.

It is difficult to explain trying times in life. This expression simplifies the matter to one that is easier to grasp and understand.

Analogy vs. Simile and Metaphor

Even though it is a comparison, an analogy is not a simile nor is it a metaphor.

What does simile mean? A simile compares to entities with comparison words such as like, as, and resembles.

• He stood as solid as a rock.

What does metaphor mean? A metaphor compares two things without using comparison words.

• He was a rock.

However, an analogy focuses on the similarities between the two entities or situations in order to make a topic more digestible. A metaphor is a figure of speech that says one thing is another.

Modern Examples of Analogy

Example of analogy: A common expression that is an example of analogy is to “let a situation thaw.”

This analogy compares any difficult situation to a block of ice. To let any situation thaw would mean to let it rest, to give it space.

Ice and a difficult situation are not similar by nature. However, an analogy compares the two to show the similarities. Ice is a much simpler subject to explain than a trying situation.

For example, if an employee is frustrated with his employer, a coworker might tell him “to let the situation thaw.”

The situation itself cannot thaw; this analogy is a way to compare a complex subject to a simpler idea. The intention is to give the situation space to let it rest and “melt” before making any serious decisions.

This analogy takes a complex topic (like a heated relationship between two individuals) and makes it more familiar by comparing it to ice.

The Purpose of Analogy

For example, a writer may introduce his work with an analogy to prepare his audience for the difficulty of his subject matter. The comparison may not be evident until the reader has completed the text. Nonetheless, the comparison serves to gently introduce a complex topic and to make that topic more familiar to the audience.

Examples of Analogy in Literature

Analogy Examples in Literature:

In Silent Spring, Carson presents a town which was once rich and flourishing. Then, as man invades the town, nature becomes “silent” because man destroys it.

Carson begins with this “fable” in order to prepare her audience for her complex essay regarding man’s detrimental impact on the natural world.

Carson’s audience can relate to a quiet, peaceful town in Middle America. They can see through Carson’s imagery the beauty and serenity of nature. They understand how man’s impact changes the town.

This familiar story prepares the audience for a less familiar one—that this is not a fable at all, and that man has a destructive impact on his surrounding world.

Summary: What are Analogies?

Define analogy: The definition of analogy is a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Their key features are,

• a comparison between two unlike things
• extended and often situational
• a way to explain a complex subject in familiar or simpler terms

The word analogy has its origins in Greek analogikótita, meaning proportionality. In ancient times, analogies were used to things by showing how they were related, usually in philosophical arguments. When the Greeks used analogy, they would often compare two sets of words side-by-side to illustrate this relationship. Example: white is to black as on is to off, meaning that black and white are complete opposites.

What is Analogy?

An analogy compares things by showing how they are alike. The comparison is often used to make a point or better describe something. Analogies so more than compare. They show and explain . Analogies are often confused with similes and metaphors. However, they are not the same thing. While similes and metaphors may be used in an analogy, an analogy does more than compare – it explains. It is good to remember:  Similes and Metaphors can be used in Analogy , but not all Analogies are similes or metaphors .

How to pronounce Analogy?

When do writers use analogy.

Writers should use analogy when they want to give readers a better understanding of the abstract or complex. By using an analogy writers make these concepts easier to understand. use Analogy literary device to compare two different things or ideas to explain a concept or make a point. Analogy is often used to simplify an idea or explanation.

A favorite example of analogy is this: “Rearranging those chairs is about as useful as rearranging the chairs on the Titanic . In this instance, the analogy is being used to point out that no matter how many chairs are rearranged doesn’t matter; it’s a futile effort.

Some Tips for Using Analogy in Your Writing

If you wish to work analogy into your writing, there are of course a few tips to follow to achieve the desired effect.

• Think of ways to inspire .
• Think about your audience and use comparisons they will understand.
• Create simple, easy to understand imagery .
• Work to compare and contrast .

And Remember : Analogy not only compares, it shows and explains .

The Two Types of Analogy

There are two types of analogy. These types are:

• Analogies which identify shared relationships – This type of analogy is often found in logical arguments and compares things that are technically unrelated. When using this type of analogy, comparisons are straightforward and generally made in sets. Example: “White is to black like on is to off,” meaning that black and white are total opposites.
• Analogies which identify shared abstractness – Analogies of this type involve two things that are technically unrelated but share similar characteristics and are useful for making your audience understand abstract concepts. For example, “Raising a child is like gardening, it takes both patience and practice.” Since parenting is a complex, abstract concept, this analogy helps to explain that like gardening, you must tend to your children with patience so that they may grow to be strong.

Analogy in Literature 📚

The House in Paris , Elizabeth Bowen uses analogy to say that like the saucer supports the cup, our memories keep love alive.

“Memory is to love what the sauce’r is to cup.”

Another modern example of analogy in literature comes from Peter de Vries in Let Me Count the Ways :

“If you want my final opinion on the mystery of life and all that, I can give it to you in a nutshell. The universe is like a safe to which there is a combination. But the combination is locked up in the safe.”

In this passage, de Vries uses the analogy that like the combination to the safe, life is a mystery , meaning that just as we may never understand the meaning of life, the safe may never be unlocked.

And finally, you cannot have a discussion about literary devices without including Shakespeare . After all, he seems to be a master of them all. In MacBeth , Act V, he compares life to a passing shadow – it is fleeting and comes as easily as it goes.

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.”

And in Poetry ✍🏽

When examining analogy in poetry, the task can become. Analogies can be harder to identify because in shorter poems, you may find the analogy is not contained to a single line or two but rather, the entire poem. While that’s not the case in our first example, we have included one such example for review.

“T here is no Frigate Like a Book ,” Emily Dickinson – 

“ There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot That bears the Human Soul –”

In the poem above, the sections of interest have been highlighted to further explain the analogy in the line (and title), “There is no frigate like a book.” In this line, Dickinson compares a book to a war ship. The abstract concepts Dickinson refers to in this analogy are that of the imagination and the soul. She is saying that a book, like a warship, possesses immense power but also, it has the ability to take the reader all over the world if they can just imagine it.

This example is a little more complex, in that as previously noted,  the entire poem is the analogy. However, what Frost wants to convey is that as the seasons change, life also changes with each passing day. In “ Nothing Gold Can Stay, ” Robert Frost uses analogy to compare seasons to life. He writes:

“Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.”

As the discussion moves forward, this section ends with William Wadsworth Longfellow and his poem, “ The Day is Done .”

“The day is done, and the darkness

Falls from the wings of Night ,

As a feather is wafted downward

From an eagle in his flight.”

In Longfellow’s analogy, he compares the coming of night to a feather falling gently and peacefully from an eagle’s wing.

Analogy in Film and Dialogue 🎥

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get” – Forrest Gump (1994)

In this clip, Forrest compares life to the unpredictability of a box of chocolates. What the writers of this scene wished to convey is that just as you never know what you’ll get in a box of assorted chocolates, life is equally unpredictable.

Analogy in Advertising 📺

Today, one of the most effective ad campaigns uses people as analogy . This was brought to life in the recent Apple commercial featuring Justin Long as a Mac.

But when it comes to marketing, the analogy itself can become abstract as in the example above. Analogies can be presented as images as in the Amazon shopping logo featuring the shopping cart and the A to Z connected with a smile. More traditional examples include ads such as the ad slogan, “ Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there .” The comparison being made is that of a good neighbor and the insurance company. What means a good neighbor is always there in a time of need and like that neighbor the insurance company will be there ready and waiting when you need it.

Often Mistaken for .. 👥

• Simile – A comparison between two unrelated things using the word “like” or “as.” Example: “The biscuit is as salty as a pickle.”
• Metaphor – A figure of speech describing an action or object in a way that is not literally true. Example: “Bob is a couch potato.”

What is an analogy in literature?

An analogy is a literary device that establishes a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas. By conveying an idea or an argument with the help of an analogous situation, it makes it easier to understand a new idea by comparing it to a familiar one.

How does an analogy differ from a metaphor and a simile?

While analogies, metaphors, and similes all compare two different things, analogies are used for clarification, explanation, or argumentation, showing how two things are alike in more than one aspect. Similes make a comparison using “like” or “as,” and metaphors do so by stating something is something else, often in a more poetic manner.

Why are analogies important in literature?

Analogies are important because they help clarify complex or unfamiliar concepts by comparing them to something more familiar, making the new information easier to grasp. They also enhance the reader’s engagement by encouraging them to make connections between different ideas or themes.

Can you give examples of how analogies are used?

Examples of analogies include comparing the structure of an atom to a solar system to explain electron orbits, or likening the mind to a computer when discussing human memory. These comparisons help clarify the less familiar concept by drawing parallels to something understood.

How can I identify an analogy in a text?

To identify an analogy, look for a comparison that is used to explain, clarify, or argue for a concept through its similarities with another, more familiar concept. Analogies often go beyond simple comparisons to explore the relationships between different aspects of the two subjects being compared.

What Is Analogy? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples

Analogy definition.

An  analogy  (uh-NAHL-uh-gee) is a rhetorical device in which a writer compares the shared qualities of two unrelated objects. They are different from  similes  and  metaphors , which also compare unrelated objects by equating them. However, an analogy can employ either one to drive home its larger point. Analogies support logic, present rational arguments, and back up ideas by showing the relationship between disparate things.

The word  analogy  comes from the Greek  analogia , meaning “proportion,” which builds off  ana , meaning “according to,” and  logos , meaning “ratio.”

How to Construct an Analogy

Most analogies in literature,  rhetoric , and everyday communication contain two components: the unknown concept, which is the target, and the known concept, which is the source. The target is the idea the analogy hopes to explain, while the source is the idea used to explain it. The source is something familiar or widely understood to most people; the target is something unfamiliar and mysterious.

When creating a link between the two concepts, writers are essentially making the unfamiliar into something familiar. For example, take the classic line from  Forrest Gump : “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never known what you’re gonna get.” Forrest, quoting his mother in this line, uses a box of assorted chocolates as the source, comparing it to a target that is nebulous and difficult to understand: life. Connecting the two concepts illuminates a specific insight about the randomness of life.

In logic and reasoning, and occasionally in literature, analogies are a four-part comparison expressed via the formula of A:B::C:D, or A is to B as C is to D. This comparison depends on the relationship between A and B and the relationship between C and D to make its point, so A can never be D, and B can never be C. For instance, in the analogy “Haggis is to Scotland as caviar is to Russia,” haggis (A) is a food associated with Scotland (B), just as caviar (C) is a food associated with Russia (D). It explains that haggis originated in Scotland by equating its relationship to the relationship between caviar and Russia, as the former originated in the latter.

Relationships that Analogies Can Convey

There are several different comparative concepts that can fit into the A:B::C:D formula.

• Opposite relationships, or antonyms: “cold is to hot as night is to day”
• Similar relationships, or synonyms: “draw is to sketch as sofa is to couch”
• Cause and effect relationships: “smiles are to joy as tears are to grief”
• Part-to-whole relationships: “finger is to hand as leaf is to tree”
• Location relationships: “apples are to orchards as fish are to sea”
• Object-to-action relationships, wherein objects are paired with associated actions: “bake is to pie as simmer is to soup”
• Performer-to-action relationships: “actor is to acting as writer is to writing”
• Performer-to-object relationships: “plumber is to wrench as artist is to paintbrush”
• Function relationships: “pencil is to writing as knife is to cutting”
• Attribute or characteristic relationships: “teachers emit wisdom as lamps emit light”
• Classification relationships: “ waltz is to dance as American Beauty is to rose”

The Function of Analogies

An analogy helps make an abstract concept more tangible and relatable. Many professionals rely on sharing information, and analogies play an important role in making that information understandable. Writers, teachers, advertising and marketing professionals, government officials, scientists, and healthcare providers are just a few of the occupations that involve disseminating information to the general public. Employing analogies is a common method of ensuring an audience understands what they hear.

Analogies also inject substance and emotion into an idea or image. Writers mainly utilize this function to convey meaning and beauty in the stories they tell. It’s nearly impossible to read a novel or a  poem  without finding at least one analogy.

Finally, analogies make compelling arguments in rhetoric. Advertising and marketing lingo, political debates, and  didactic  nonfiction works are some of the arenas where analogies present powerful, persuasive arguments. In 2009, President Barack Obama responded to the Republican criticism of his proposals with a potent analogy comparing politicians’ responsibilities with mopping up messes. “I’m busy. Nancy’s busy with our mops cleaning up somebody else’s mess,” he said. “We don’t want somebody sitting back saying ‘You’re not holding the mop the right way.’ Why don’t you grab a mop? Why don’t you help clean up? ‘You’re not mopping fast enough! That’s a socialist mop!’ Grab a mop. Let’s get to work.”

Analogies, Similes, and Metaphors

While these terms all involve making comparisons, they differ in that analogies merely point out commonalities between two unrelated things, while  similes  and  metaphors  are  figures of speech  that imply the unrelated things are equals. Both similes and metaphors are popular in the target/source approach to analogies.

The difference between similes and analogies is subtle. A simile compares two things through the words  like  or  as . While it can have a powerful effect when making comparisons, analogies address more detailed explanations that elevate the relationship between the compared concepts. The earlier  Forrest Gump  quote is an example of both a simile and an analogy. The first part of the movie line—“Life is like a box of chocolates”—is a simile. The subsequent explanation—“You never know what you’re gonna get”—expands upon the simile’s concept to make a larger point; thus, it is an analogy.

Metaphors and analogies have a similar relationship. Metaphors compare two objects directly, without the linking words that similes use. For example, here is a famous excerpt from the  William Shakespeare  classic  Romeo and Juliet , spoken by Juliet:

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet.

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,

Retain that dear perfection which he owes

Without that title.

In this passage, Juliet compares Romeo’s perceived perfection to a rose’s sweet scent; since she does not use linking words to state this similarity, her description is a metaphor. It becomes an analogy because she expounds upon it. She starts by declaring that names are irrelevant. To prove this point, she posits that a rose will always smell like a rose no matter what one might call it. Bringing the analogy to a close, she says that, just like the rose, Romeo will remain who he is—someone she loves—no matter what name he has.

Examples of Analogies in Literature

1. William Shakespeare,   As You Like It

Shakespeare’s comedy involves a woman named Rosalind escaping persecution at her uncle’s court and fleeing to the Forest of Arden. There, she finds a cast of quirky characters, including an introspective traveler named Jacques. He delivers one of Shakespeare’s most memorable monologues:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.

Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel…

In this passage, Jacques likens the world to a stage and all the world’s inhabitants to actors performing on the stage. By saying “one man in his time plays many parts,” Jacques—and Shakespeare through him—implies that the roles people fulfill evolve throughout the natural span of human life. Even further, he compares this evolution to the “acts” that make up a play.

2. T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

Eliot’s  narrative poem  encompasses a series of thoughts by a narrator on the search for love in a loveless world. Despite the title, it is less a love song and more of a collection of fragmented ideas about frustrated and unexpressed love and devotion.

Let us go then, you and I,

When the evening is spread out against the sky

Like a patient etherized upon a table;

Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,

The muttering retreats

Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels

And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:

Streets that follow like a tedious argument

Of insidious intent

To lead you to an overwhelming question …

Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”

Let us go and make our visit.

This excerpt depends on vivid analogies. The narrator paints a scene of emptiness and despair by comparing a night to an unconscious patient on an operating table—something that is inert and seemingly lifeless. He also equates the meandering streets to monotonous and devious disputes—both taking travelers places they may not want to go. The result is a bleak snapshot of a city at night and the hopeless man at the center of it.

3. Milan Kundera,   The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Kundera’s novel follows the overlapping stories of Tomáš, Tereza, Sabina, and Franz during the 1968 Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia. Kundera presents many analogies throughout the course of the story. The following passages discuss the depth of Tomáš’s sudden, shockingly intense feelings for Tereza:

He kept recalling her lying on his bed; she reminded him of no one in his former life. She was neither mistress nor wife. She was a child whom he had taken from a bulrush basket that had been daubed with pitch and sent to the riverbank of his bed. She fell asleep. He knelt down next to her….

He had come to feel an inexplicable love for this all but complete stranger; she seemed a child to him, a child someone had put in a bulrush basket daubed with pitch and sent downstream for Tomáš to fetch at the riverbank of his bed.

Kundera underscores Tereza’s innocence and her need to be cared for by comparing her to a helpless child in “a bulrush basket that had been daubed with pitch and sent to the riverbank of his bed.” This analogy employs a metaphor to equate Tereza to the Biblical Moses, who, as a baby, was saved from a basket floating down a river.

Further Resources on Analogies

John F. Sowa and Arun K. Majumdar delve into the details of  using analogies in logical reasoning .

Butte College offers some guidance on  how to write an analogy .

iWriteEssays shares tips on  writing an analogy in essay form .

Copyblogger talks about  the power of analogies in business and marketing .

An academic paper by Yan Chang explores  rhetorical functions and structural patterns of analogies .

Related Terms

Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of analogy.

Analogy is a comparison between two things. Analogies function to describe or explain one thing by examining its similarities with another thing. The two things may be very dissimilar and the analogy forces the reader or listener to understand the connection between them. On the other hand, the analogy could provide a comparison between two very similar things, one of which might be more obscure; the analogy provides a way for a reader or listener to understand the more obscure thing by picturing the more common thing.

Many common literary devices are examples of analogy, such as metaphor, simile, allegory, parable, and exemplification. We examine the differences between these devices below.

Analogy comes from the Greek word analogia , which is a combination of the prefix ana- (upon, again, or back) and the suffix – logos (ratio, word, or speech). Together, the word means something akin to “proportion.”

Types of Analogy

As the definition of analogy includes all types of comparisons, the following list of literary devices all qualify as analogies:

• Metaphor : A metaphor compares two subjects without any connecting words such as “like” or “as.” Metaphors are considered a strong form of analogy as they assert that one thing is another.
• Simile : A simile is a comparison between two things using the connecting words “like” or “as.” Not quite as strong of a comparison as metaphor, simile still requires the reader to understand the similarities between the two things and make new cognitive links.
• Allegory : An allegory is a story in which the characters, images, and/or events function as symbols. These symbols can be interpreted to have deeper significance and may illustrate moral truths or a political or historical situation.
• Parable : Similar to allegory, though more condensed, a parable is a simple story used to illustrate an instructive lesson or principal.
• Exemplification : Exemplification is the relation between a sample and what it refers to. For example, if a sign at an arboretum said “oak” in front of an oak tree, that tree would be an exemplification of the label.

Common Examples of Analogy

Analogy is not only a literary term. Indeed, the concept of analogy is used in many different fields, from math to biology to philosophy. Analogy is an important part of high-level perception in humans; the ability to form and understand analogies requires high cognitive functioning.

Analogies have been used as a part of the American SAT exam to test cognitive functioning. Here are some simple examples of analogy that one might have found on the SAT test:

• GREEN : COLOR :: ORCHID : FLOWER
• SCIENTIST : EINSTEIN :: MUSICIAN : MOZART
• HUMAN : FINGERNAIL :: TIGER : CLAW

There are many other analogies that we can find in common speech. Here are some examples of simile, one of the main types of analogy:

• Mary had a little lamb / Her fleece was white as snow.
• As light as a feather
• As dead as a doornail
• As busy as a bee
• As quiet as a mouse
• As happy as a clam
• Sly like a fox
• You’re as sweet as sugar
• That would be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.
• “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream” –Martin Luther King, Jr. “I have a dream” speech

Significance of Analogy in Literature

Analogy is very important in literature, and it can be found in its many forms in literature from every culture and era. Analogy helps readers and listeners explore relationships between like and unlike things, thereby expanding connective tissue between concepts. Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle theorized about analogy, calling it a shared abstraction. The objects being compared shared a pattern, idea, philosophy, or effect, and the analogy helped clarify this mutual attribute. Authors use analogies in all types of literature for many reasons, such as to provide comparisons between like and unlike things, to create deeper significance in their works, and to help readers visualize characters and places.

Examples of Analogy in Literature

So.  The Spear-Danes in days gone by And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns. There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. This terror of the hall-troops had come far. A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on As his powers waxed and his worth was proved. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts Beyond the whale-road had to yield to him And begin to pay tribute. That was one good king.

( Beowulf , translated by Seamus Heaney)

The anonymous author of the Old English epic Beowulf used a particular type of analogy called a “kenning.” A kenning is a compound word that is a metaphorical recreation of a common concept. In the above excerpt, which is the opening paragraph of Beowulf , there are several kennings. “Spear-Danes,” “mead-benches,” “hall-troops,” and “whale-road” are all kennings. “Whale-road,” for example, is a kenning for the sea. The metaphorical meaning is that the sea is the road that whales use. Kennings were a very popular type of analogy in Old English, but have fallen almost completely out of favor in modern English.

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night, Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear.

( Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)

Shakespeare used analogy examples in all of his works. In these three lines there are a few analogies. The “cheek of night” is an analogy, as the comparison between “her beauty” and “a rich jewel.” Even the idea that Juliet could “teach the torches to burn bright” is an analogy example in its comparison of her ability to brighten what is already characteristically bright.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

(“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas)

There are a couple examples of analogy in just this short excerpt from Dylan Thomas’s “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.” The concept of “blinding sight” is a juxtaposition of seemingly opposite terms, but hints at the metaphorical understanding of how the end of life is both blinding and gives much clarity. The second line of this excerpt contains a simile comparing “blind eyes” and “meteors” and how they similarly “blaze.” The entire poem functions as an analogy, as “the dying of the light” is actually a metaphor for death.

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

( Animal Farm by George Orwell)

George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm is an allegory about the Russian Revolution; the pigs that take over control of the farm are a symbol of the men who took control of the Russian government after the Revolution. At the end of the novel men come to the farm to talk with the pigs, and the other farm animals outside cannot tell which creature is which. This is an example of analogy because the reader is forced to think about the ways that the pigs have taken on the very characteristics they meant to work against.

Test Your Knowledge of Analogy

1. Which of the following statements is the correct analogy definition?  A. A short story with no hidden meanings or deeper significance. B. A juxtaposition of two things that have nothing in common. C. A comparison of two things. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #1″] Answer: C is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

2. What type of analogy is found in the following excerpt from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet ?

Look, love, what envious streaks Do lace the severing clouds in yonder East: Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.

A. Metaphor B. Simile C. Exemplification [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #2″] Answer: A is the correct answer. Shakespeare does not use the connecting words “like” or “as” when writing of “night’s candles” or the ability of day to “stand tiptoe.”[/spoiler]

3. Which of the following three lines from Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” contains an analogy? A. Where the she-whale swims with her calf and never forsakes it, B. Where the fin of the shark cuts like a black chip out of the water, C. Where the half-burn’d brig is riding on unknown currents [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: B is the correct answer, as it compares the “fin of the shark” to “a black chip.” This is an example of a simile.[/spoiler]

• Literary Terms

When & How to write an Analogy

• Definition & Examples
• When & How to write an Analogy

How to Write an Analogy

You should use analogies in your writing when you want to show strong support by comparison. Here are some examples of how to use them:

Normal Sentence:

He ran incredibly fast in the race.

With Analogy:

In the race, he ran with the grace and speed of a cheetah—smooth, flawless, and natural, as if he had been raised running across the plains of Africa.

Those two are very close.

Those two unlikely friends are surprisingly close, like a shark and its cleaner fish—though they have different qualities and purposes, it is clear that neither could survive without the

Although analogies are useful and essential devices, they can be surprisingly difficult to use effectively! You don’t want to make comparisons to just anything, or your writing may start to look sloppy and careless. Here are some examples of poor analogies to show you the kinds of common mistakes you should try to avoid:

Poor Analogy : He ran as fast as a cheetah in the race.

Why It’s Poor : Wait, there was a cheetah in the race? No, of course not. That phrase is a dangling modifier . So just move it to the beginning, as in the sentence above (“In the race, he ran…”).

Poor Analogy : On that warm summer day, we went down to the beach, where the sand was as white as snow.

Why It’s Poor : The author has done so much to show the reader that the setting is a warm, sunny beach in summer. But the word “snow” completely undermines that by bringing up images of cold, grey winter. Rather than improving  the imagery, the analogy actually works against it.

When to Use Analogy

Analogies can be an extremely powerful addition to your writing, so experiment! Using analogies is a really useful skill for improving your powers of logic, reasoning, and writing, and the best way to learn it is to practice.

When you experiment with analogies in your writing, keep the following principles in mind:

• Make sure it’s clear what aspect(s) of the two objects you want to compare.
• Draw an analogy to something concrete , ideally something that people can actually visualize in their minds. If you’re trying to explain an abstract idea, it doesn’t help to compare it to another abstract idea, but it might help a lot if you compare it to something tangible!
• If you’re using analogies in creative writing, make sure they’re suited to the setting ! If the story is set on a boat, try to use analogies having to do with water or islands. Remember the example with the sand and the snow. In that case, the problem was that the setting was all wrong – snow doesn’t belong on a warm, sandy beach!

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
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• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
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• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
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Analogy: Definition & Meaning (with Examples)

Analogy is one of the most common types of literary devices. It's also one of the hardest to understand because it's similar to other types of figurative language. Today, we're going to dive into the meaning of analogy with in-depth explanations and examples.

Analogy Definition: What Is an Analogy?

Let's start with the dictionary definition of an analogy. According to Merriam-Webster, an analogy is "a comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on a resemblance of a particular aspect."

We use analogies all the time in speaking and fields like history and science. They help us illustrate a point that might be hard to comprehend. For example, we might make an analogy between the Trail of Tears of U.S. History and the Jewish Diaspora of World History. In biology, you might discuss the analogous relationship of bat wings and bird wings.

As a literary device, however, analogy's meaning has more nuance that separates it from other types of rhetorical devices. Let's look at the literary meaning of analogy in more detail in the next section.

Analogy Meaning

As a rhetorical device, analogy compares two unlike things with the purpose of both illustrating a comparison and explaining it. You aren't just trying to show a similarity when you use an analogy. You are also trying to make a point about this similarity.

Analogies can be useful to explain complex concepts by comparing them to a familiar idea. Analogies also help paint a picture in a reader's mind and add emphasis to important ideas in writing.

Let's take a look at a popular example of an analogy from the movie Forrest Gump . In the movie, Forrest says that his mother always told him, "Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you're gonna get."

If Forrest just said that life was like a box of chocolates, we would wonder what the similarity is. What point is he trying to get across? It might be that life is sweet or that life is a gift from someone who loves you. But then he explains that we never know where life will take us or what circumstances we will fall into. We don't know until we get there; we can't see the future.

He's not just painting a picture about life. He's making a point about the uncertainty of life and the many twists and turns it takes. This analogy goes further and illustrates the entire premise of the film. Forrest goes from being a boy in leg braces to an international ping pong champion to a dad. No one could have predicted that!

Analogies look similar to other types of figurative language. So, what's the difference?

Analogy vs. Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that shows a likeness between two otherwise different things. The point of a metaphor is comparison. For example, we can say, "the kids were a bunch of monkeys today." We are comparing kids to monkeys.

An analogy not only compares but explains. "The kids were a bunch of monkeys today, climbing all over the furniture, running all over the house, and shrieking."

As you can see, an analogy might feature a metaphor, but it goes further in making a point. This is also different from an extended metaphor. An extended metaphor continues to use a comparison to illustrate similarities of two objects. An analogy requires some explicit explanation to make its point.

Analogy vs. Simile

A simile is a type of metaphor, but it uses "like" or "as" to draw comparisons. Just like with a metaphor, an analogy might use a simile to compare two things, but then the analogy goes on to explain the idea behind it.

The Forrest Gump quote is an example of this. The part of the quote, "Life is like a box of chocolates," is a simile. The next part of the quote that tells how life and a box of chocolates are related is what makes this quote an analogy.

Many analogies use similes and metaphors to make comparisons, but it is not required.

Analogy vs. Allusion

Another figurative language element that is easy to confuse with analogy is allusion.

Allusion is a mention of a person, place, or thing that is considered common knowledge. It's often a reference to a famous person or event or a well-known story, like fairy tales, myths, or religious parables.

Allusion is a way to compare two things. Let's look at an example:

• "The books on the top shelf were forbidden fruit."

Forbidden fruit refers to the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge in the Bible. This is an allusion. We can draw enough conclusions from this allusion to understand what the books represent.

Allusions can be part of analogies, too. Remember, where allusions compare, analogies explain:

• "If the library was Eden, the books on the top shelf were forbidden fruit. They opened my eyes to a world beyond the life I had always known."

All of these are useful types of figurative language. The difference lies in the purpose. If the goal is to explain an idea or get a specific point across, it's an analogy.

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Analogies, Idioms, and Clichés

Sometimes analogies become so well-known that they become part of our everyday lexicon. Idioms are phrases that don't make sense literally, but they do make sense figuratively. Overused idioms can become clichés.

An example of an analogy that is a cliché is "she's as blind as a bat." It's a very overused comparison. Use ProWritingAid's Clichés Report to help identify the clichés and idioms in your writing. While some common analogies might help you get your point across, some can actually hinder your writing's clarity, especially to non-native speakers.

Try the Cliché Report with a free ProWritingAid account.

Analogy Examples

You probably hear or read analogy examples all the time—they're a common rhetorical device. Today, we'll take a look at some analogy examples from everyday sentences and literature.

Examples of Analogy in a Sentence

Humans love figurative language, and we create analogies in our everyday speech. Here are some examples.

• Ordering clothes online is like playing the lottery. Some fit great, and some are a complete waste of money when they don't even go over your head!
• His voice was warm honey on toast, sweet and comforting and familiar.
• She thought the sound of babies crying was as annoying as fingernails on a chalkboard. Babies definitely weren't for her.

Can you create any analogies?

Examples of Analogy in Literature

Analogy is a powerful rhetorical device. Here are some famous examples of analogy in literature:

• "All the world’s a stage / And all the men and women merely players / They have their exits and their entrances / And one man in his time plays many parts / His acts being seven ages."— As You Like It , William Shakespeare
• “I can admire the perfect murderer—I can also admire a tiger—that splendid tawny-striped beast. But I will admire him from outside his cage. I will not go inside . . . . That is to say, not unless it is my duty to do so. For you see, Mr. Shaitana, the tiger might spring . . . .”— Cards on the Table , Agatha Christie
• "Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup."— The House in Paris , Elizabeth Bowen

Tips on How to Write an Analogy

When you're writing an analogy to express an idea, it's important to keep two things in mind. First, make sure that at least one of the two things you're comparing is familiar and easy to understand. An analogy should make your point clear to the reader, not leave them confused! Animal or nature imagery, allusions to well-known tales, and everyday objects are good things to use in your analogies.

Secondly, make sure that your comparison is clear without much explanation. If you compare a shy, demure princess to a tiger, you need to explain what specific aspects of the princess and the tiger are similar. Is she ferocious when her loved ones are attacked? Does she prefer to spend time alone outdoors and seethe when caged?

If it takes too many sentences to explain the analogy, try using different imagery that is simpler to understand.

Different Types of Analogy

There are two main types of analogy. These are based on how closely related the two things being compared are.

Literal Analogy

The first type of analogy is a literal analogy. When two things are very closely related, we compare them with literal analogies. These are the types of analogies commonly used in science. Literal analogies can help scientists draw comparisons or make a logical argument.

For example, a virologist might compare the viral structure of two different viruses. If the virus has a similar structure and similar symptoms to another, they are analogous. This will help them theorize that the second virus can be treated similarly to the first.

Literal analogies don't have to be just for science! If you're a baker, you might know that you can make a cheesecake out of either cream cheese or mascarpone. As an analogy, we can say that mascarpone is a lot like cream cheese. They both have high fat content, are very soft, and are not aged.

Literal analogies are the type you might see on standardized tests. They used to feature on the SAT and looked like this: A:B::C:D. You can read literal analogies as "A is to B as C is to D."

Here's a simple example:

• Night is to sleep as morning is to wake .

Standardized tests would have one or more of the words blank, and you had to determine the connection in the analogy. How are they connected?

Figurative Analogy

A figurative analogy makes a comparison between two or more things that aren't necessarily that similar at first glance. The analogy focuses on making a comparison based on a specific aspect of the unrelated things. This is called shared abstraction .

Take a look at the following analogy:

• "Giving candy and coffee as appreciation gifts is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. It's not actually fixing the issues that are causing low morale, like low pay, long hours, and micromanaging."

If the Titanic is sinking, it's pointless to rearrange deck chairs. Likewise, this quote suggests spending money on little gifts is pointless because it's not addressing the real issues at hand that are causing employee dissatisfaction.

No one is suggesting that low morale at a company is the same thing as the hundreds of lives lost on the Titanic. The shared abstraction is doing something pointless in the face of a disaster.

Should You Use Analogies in Your Writing?

Analogies are powerful literary devices because they create an image in the reader's mind while making a point in a deeper way than a metaphor. Remember, an analogy compares two objects with the purpose of explaining a deeper idea. A literal analogy compares two very similar objects, while a figurative analogy relies on shared abstractions.

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What is an Analogy? Explained With 10 Top Examples

What is an analogy? Read our guide with top examples and in-depth explanations so you can wrap your head around this literary device.

Literary devices make your prose more colorful and vivid, allowing the reader to make associations. What is an analogy? An analogy compares two seemingly unlike things to help draw a conclusion by highlighting their similarities. Unlike other comparisons, like similes and metaphors, an analogy gives more detail about the comparison to help the reader understand it better. 

While there are many different types of analogy to study, the best way to understand this and other figures of speech is to consider examples. After reading a few analogies, you will be better equipped to spot them or write your own. And when you have finished here, check out our comparison article, simile vs metaphor .

What is An Analogy?

What are the benefits of using an analogy, analogy examples, 1. a name is a rose from romeo and juliet, 2. life is a shadow from macbeth, 3. the crowd is like a fisherman in “a hanging”, 4. life is like a box of chocolates from forrest gump, 5. pulling out troops is like salted peanuts from henry kissinger, 6. the futility of a new author from cocktail time, 7. the mystery of life in let me count the ways, 8. the push for freedom is like summer’s heat in “i have a dream”, 9. a needle in a haystack, 10. rearranging deck chairs on the titanic, 11. the matrix’s pill analogy, 12. harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone, what is the opposite of an analogy, what is an example of an analogy, what is the simple definition of analogy, what are 5 examples of analogy, what is another word for an analogy.

An analogy compares two concepts, usually to explain or clarify an idea. Writers use analogies to help people understand complex or abstract topics by relating something abstract to the familiar or concrete. They also use them as a type of literary device to improve the readability of their works.

By highlighting similarities, a writer helps readers see how one thing works or behaves by comparing the characteristics of abstract ideas to more familiar ideas. As a result, a concept or idea becomes easier to understand and even more memorable.

For example, a news reporter could employ this word analogy: “The presidential race for 2024 is like a chessboard…” Teachers use different types of analogies to demonstrate a concept to a student. For this reason, analogy tests often form part of standardized tests in any good English curriculum.

Analogies work in the real world too! For example, if a running coach wants to explain how a runner can run faster, they could use an analogy like “Pump your arms like a train” to help people understand how they should use their arms and legs to run faster. You might also be interested in learning  what is tautology .

Examples of analogies exist in classic literature, the latest books, movies and TV shows. Here are a few:

Often, analogies compare abstract concepts to something you can touch and feel. There are several examples of analogy in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In this analogy, the playwright compares someone’s name to a rose. The rose retains its sweet smell no matter how it is named, as does the person, regardless of his name. Read our guide to the best books of classic literature .

“If you want my final opinion on the mystery of life and all that, I can give it to you in a nutshell. The universe is like a safe to which there is a combination. But the combination is locked up in the safe.”

Life is a difficult concept to understand, making it a favorite topic for people who write analogies. In Act V of Macbeth, Shakespeare creates an analogy example by comparing a person’s life, and its brevity, to a fleeting shadow:

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale  Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.”

Because life is so fleeting, this analogy works. The reader can see the shadow flitting about on the stage, then disappearing, reminding the reader how short life really is. You might also find these  headings and subheadings examples  helpful.

Some analogies take a little more time to explain yet still compare unlike things to make a point. For example, in his essay entitled  A Hanging  George Orwell describes the crowd gripping a man as they lead him to the gallows. The analogy is the comparison to the way a man would hold a slippery fish:

“They crowded very close about him, with their hands always on him in a careful, caressing grip, as though all the while feeling him to make sure he was there. It was like men handling a fish which is still alive and may jump back into the water. But he stood quite unresisting, yielding his arms limply to the ropes, as though he hardly noticed what was happening.”

This analogy is also an example of a simile because it uses the word “like” to make the comparison. However, because it extends beyond just one statement but has a complete description and explanation, it brings more imagery to the reader’s mind and thus is an analogy. Read our guide to the  best satirical authors .

Some analogies are short and sweet, rather than taking up an entire literary work. In the movie Forrest Gump, both the title character and his mother refer to life as a “box of chocolates.” In one of the most famous figures of speech from this movie, Forest says:

“My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

Though this is a simple statement, it is an example of an analogy. The reader has probably experienced the feeling of grabbing chocolate and wondering what flavor it is, so this is a good analogy. But, like life, that box of chocolates always has the potential to give you the unexpected. You might also be wondering,  what is point of view?

Though technically a historian and not a literary genius, Henry Kissinger was famous for many of his analogies. One of his most commonly quoted is this:

“Withdrawal of U.S. troops will become like salted peanuts to the American public; the more U.S. troops come home, the more will be demanded. This could eventually result, in effect, in demands for unilateral withdrawal.”

This quote comes from a  memorandum Kissinger sent to President Nixon  regarding the conflict in Vietnam. He warned the president that bringing troops home a little at a time would create demand for more withdrawal, just like eating tasty peanuts makes you want to eat more. 

Writing a book is definitely challenging, especially when doing so for the first time. This fact is the source of one famous analogy in literature. In  Cocktail Time , P.G. Wodehouse compares a new author to someone performing an impossible task:

“It has been well said that an author who expects results from a first novel is in a position similar to that of a man who drops a rose petal down the Grand Canyon of Arizona and listens for the echo.”

Clearly, expecting to hear an echo from a rose petal at the Grand Canyon is foolishness. Thus, based on this analogy, the logical argument that expecting to see significant returns from a first novel is also foolish. You might also be wondering  what is a split infinitive .

In his novel  Let Me Count the Ways , Dutch author and journalist  Peter De Vries  compares life and a safe. He writes:

In this analogy, the safe can’t be unlocked. Similarly, the mystery of life is something people can’t fully understand.

Speechwriters who are good at their jobs often use analogies to make their words more memorable. In his famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” Martin Luther King, Jr., makes an analogy between the anger of African-Americans and the heat of summer in this quote:

“This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.”

Just like the heat of summer is unquenchable, the frustration of those facing endless prejudice cannot be quenched. Yet when freedom comes, it is like the relief of the cool autumn breeze. This quote is still used today when people remember the famous civil rights activist.

Finding a needle in a haystack is a nearly impossible task. This catchphrase or analogy example is often applied to tasks that seem out of reach. For instance, one common analogy says:

“Finding a good man is as easy as finding a needle in a haystack.”

This analogy indicates it is nearly impossible to find a “good man.” Though unfair to the male gender, it does make its point through the use of analogy. Most people can picture digging through the hay to find a needle, but to no avail, which makes the analogy work.

This analogy does not come from any famous literary work or speech but from a well-known historical moment. The sinking of the Titanic was one such event. Sometimes people, when talking about something futile, will say:

“That’s as useful as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”

Since the Titanic was a doomed vessel, the futility of the effort is seen in this use of figurative language. The phrase can apply to any effort that would not matter because the result is a failure, like the sinking of the infamous ship. Check out our metonymy examples .

In The Matrix , there is a famous scene where Morpheus presents the red pill/blue pill analogy to Neo. The analogy is a turning point in the movie where Neo has to pick which path he wants to go down. The red pill represents embracing the uncomfortable truth and becoming aware of the real world he lives in. The blue pill represents choosing the familiar and comfortable path where he can remain in his world, oblivious to the dark reality he suspects.

“You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”

J.K. Rowling uses analogies throughout her works, often to give insight into the minds and personalities of the characters. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , Professor Dumbledore speaks to Harry and imparts some of his famous wisdom.

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

In this analogy example sentence, he suggests that while having dreams and aspirations are important, it’s just as important to be grounded and present in the current moment. The analogy aims to show Harry that he should balance his ambition and reality and become mindful in the midst of the chaos that he lives in. It also encourages Harry to let go of regrets and become fully present in his life as it is today.

An antithesis highlights the differences between two contrasting ideas. For example, the analogy “Man plans, and God laughs” shows how we can strive and work towards a goal, only for God or fate to intervene and uproot our best plans. For further reading on a similar subject, check out our post on examples of metaphors in literature .

FAQs About What is an Analogy

An example of an analogy is “Hope is the lighthouse that stands tall amidst the stormy seas of despair.” The analogy emphasizes the idea that hope can help us navigate through the storms of life, guiding us toward a better future and helping us persevere in the face of challenges.

An analogy is a comparison between two things that are alike in some way, often used to help explain something or make it easier to understand.

1. Her laughter was music to his ears. 2. Time is money. 3. He is a shining star in the world of science. 4. The classroom was a zoo during the group activity. 5. Life is a journey with its share of twists and turns.

A related term for analogy is comparison. A comparison is a way of describing the similarities or differences between two things in order to better understand them.

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“He’s as strong as an ox” and “Navigating her emotions is like walking through a maze” are examples of analogies, a common method of comparison in the English language. Analogies are not only prevalent in literature and writing but also in everyday speech, serving as an effective tool for communication. They involve comparing two different things or ideas, which helps clarify or emphasize a point. This literary term, known as an analogy, encompasses various types of comparisons, making it a key element in both formal and informal expression.

Like any other literary analysis sample device, Analogy is used in enhancing the meaning of a composition and is also used in helping the readers in creating a visual image in their minds as well as relationships goals and connections when they would read something difficult or sensitive by comparing one thing to the other. Analogies are often used in thesis , essay writing , report writing , and even in speeches .

What is an Analogy? – Definition An analogy is a comparison between two different things, intended to highlight some form of similarity. It’s a linguistic technique used to explain a new or complex idea by relating it to something familiar. Analogies are often used in teaching, writing, and speaking to make concepts easier to understand. They draw parallels that help people visualize and grasp the essence of the subjects being compared, thereby enhancing comprehension and retention.

Examples of Word Analogies

Analogies are crucial in language and thinking, comparing different concepts to enhance understanding. They are used in education to simplify complex ideas, in standardized tests to assess reasoning skills, and in job interviews to evaluate problem-solving abilities. Additionally, analogies enrich literature and daily communication. Examples like comparing pens to brushes or the sun to planets demonstrate how analogies illuminate various subjects, making them more accessible and relatable.

• Relationship in First Pair : A pen is a tool used for writing.
• Application to Second Pair : Similarly, a brush is a tool, but it is used for painting.
• The analogy connects the function of each tool with its primary action.
• Relationship in First Pair : The sun is a central part of our solar system.
• Application to Second Pair : In a broader scope, a planet is part of a galaxy, which is a larger system of celestial bodies.
• This analogy scales from a smaller celestial relationship (sun and solar system) to a larger one (planet and galaxy).
• Relationship in First Pair : A teacher is the guiding authority in a classroom.
• Application to Second Pair : Similarly, a captain is the guiding authority on a ship.
• The analogy compares the roles of authority and guidance in different settings.
• Relationship in First Pair : A clock is an instrument used to measure and indicate time.
• Application to Second Pair : In a similar vein, a thermometer is an instrument used to measure and indicate temperature.
• This analogy connects the function of measuring and indicating specific elements (time and temperature) with their respective instruments.
• Relationship in First Pair : A book is an individual item that is part of a collection in a library.
• Application to Second Pair : Similarly, a piece of art is an individual item that forms part of a collection in a gallery.
• The analogy shows the relationship of individual items (books, art) as components of larger collections (library, gallery).
• Leaf : Tree :: Wave : Ocean It compares the part-to-whole relationship of a leaf to a tree and a wave to an ocean.
• Author : Novel :: Composer : Symphony This analogy highlights the relationship between an author and their creation, a novel, to a composer and their creation, a symphony.
• Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : School It parallels the role of a doctor in a hospital to that of a teacher in a school.
• Key : Piano :: String : Guitar This analogy compares the function of a key on a piano to a string on a guitar.
• Nurse : Healthcare :: Lawyer : Law Here, the analogy shows the relationship of a nurse to the field of healthcare and a lawyer to the field of law.

More Analogy Examples for You to Solve

• Owl : Night :: Eagle : _______ (Hint: Consider the time of day each bird is most active.)
• Library : Books :: Museum : _______ (Hint: Think about what a museum houses.)
• Novelist : Words :: Painter : _______ (Hint: Focus on the primary medium used by each artist.)
• Teacher : Educate :: Chef : _______ (Hint: What is the primary action a chef performs?)
• Fish : School :: Wolf : _______ (Hint: Consider the term for a group of these animals.)
• Piano : Music :: Telescope : _______ (Hint: What does a telescope help us explore?)
• Rain : Cloud :: Lava : _______ (Hint: Where does lava originate?)
• Heart : Circulate :: Lungs : _______ (Hint: Think about the primary function of lungs.)
• Leaf : Photosynthesis :: Root : _______ (Hint: Consider the main function of roots in a plant.)
• Baker : Bakery :: Librarian : _______ (Hint: Where does a librarian work?)
• Clock : Time :: Scale : _______
• Ocean : Saltwater :: Lake : _______
• Flower : Garden :: Book : _______
• Knife : Cut :: Screwdriver : _______
• Fire : Heat :: Snow : _______
• Poet : Poem :: Musician : _______
• Bird : Nest :: Bee : _______
• Tree : Oxygen :: Sun : _______
• Actor : Stage :: Athlete : _______
• Shoe : Foot :: Glove : _______
• Phone : Call :: Computer : _______
• Rain : Umbrella :: Sun : _______
• Leaf : Green :: Sky : _______
• Baker : Bread :: Winemaker : _______
• Painter : Portrait :: Writer : _______
• Doctor : Patient :: Teacher : _______
• Fisherman : Fish :: Miner : _______
• Keyboard : Type :: Mouse : _______
• Car : Garage :: Airplane : _______
• Map : Location :: Calendar : _______

Examples of Analogies for Critical Thinking

• Just as a garden is a space where flowers grow and flourish, the mind is a space where ideas are cultivated and developed. This analogy emphasizes the nurturing and growth aspects in both scenarios.
• A book opens the door to knowledge, much like a key unlocks a door. This analogy highlights the unlocking and revealing nature of a book, providing access to new information and understanding.
• A telescope enables us to see distant stars, while a microscope allows us to view tiny bacteria. This analogy draws a parallel between the tools we use to explore vastly different scales of our universe, from the vast to the microscopic.
• Just as a foundation provides stability and support for a building, roots offer support and nourishment to a tree. This analogy compares the underlying support structures in architecture and nature.
• In poetry, words are woven together to create emotional and intellectual art, just as colors are blended in a painting to create a visual masterpiece. This analogy compares the elements of creation in different forms of art.
• A chef uses a recipe to create a dish, just like a composer uses a musical score to create a symphony.
• An author crafts stories with a pen as a sculptor shapes sculptures with a chisel.
• Fire is a source of warmth, as ice is a source of coolness.
• A clock measures time like a thermometer measures temperature.
• Trees produce oxygen, and clouds produce rain.

More Examples for you to Solve:

• Helmet : Head :: Gloves : _______ (Hint: Consider what gloves protect.)
• Sponge : Absorb :: Sieve : _______ (Hint: Think about what a sieve does with liquids.)
• Caterpillar : Butterfly :: Tadpole : _______ (Hint: Consider the lifecycle transformation.)
• Magnet : Attract :: Repellent : _______ (Hint: Think of the opposite action of attracting.)
• Flashlight : Darkness :: Air Conditioner : _______ (Hint: What does an air conditioner alleviate?)
• Furnace : Heat :: Refrigerator : _______ (Hint: Think about what a refrigerator preserves.)
• Anchor : Ship :: Brakes : _______ (Hint: Consider what brakes do to a vehicle.)
• Recipe : Dish :: Blueprint : _______ (Hint: What is created using a blueprint?)
• Vaccine : Disease :: Fertilizer : _______ (Hint: Think about what fertilizer promotes.)
• Lighthouse : Ships :: Traffic Light : _______ (Hint: Consider what traffic lights guide.)
• Archive : Documents :: Museum : _______
• Rudder : Direction :: Engine : _______
• Thermometer : Temperature :: Barometer : _______
• Author : Story :: Composer : _______
• Nest : Bird :: Den : _______
• Broom : Sweep :: Hose : _______
• Window : Light :: Dam : _______
• Dew : Morning :: Frost : _______
• Key : Lock :: Code : _______
• Easel : Painter :: Anvil : _______

Analogy Examples in Sentence

• Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get. This analogy compares the unpredictability of life with the surprise of picking a chocolate from an assorted box.
• The heart of a car is its engine. This draws a parallel between the essential role of the heart in the human body and the engine in a vehicle.
• A good book is a magic gateway into another world. Here, the transformative power of reading is likened to a portal leading to new, undiscovered realms.
• The classroom was a zoo. This analogy suggests the noisy and chaotic nature of the classroom, similar to the lively environment of a zoo.
• Her eyes were windows to her soul. This sentence compares eyes to windows, implying that they reveal deep emotions or the essence of a person.
• Time is a thief. This analogy implies that time steals moments from our lives, much like a thief takes away possessions.
• The computer in the modern age is like a pen in the past. This draws a comparison between the role of computers today in communication and creation, and the role of the pen in earlier times.
• The moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas. This vividly portrays the moon as a ghostly ship sailing across the sky, with clouds as its sea.
• The world is a stage, and we are merely players. This famous analogy from Shakespeare suggests that life is like a play, and everyone has a role to perform.
• Watching the show was like walking through a dream. This suggests the surreal, dream-like quality of the show, likened to the experience of walking through a dream.

Examples of Analogy in Literature

Analogy is a common literary device used by authors to draw comparisons between two different things, often to highlight a particular theme or idea. Here are some examples of analogy in literature:

• This famous analogy compares the world to a stage and life to a play, suggesting that our lives are structured like a theatrical performance, with different roles and acts.
• Orwell uses farm animals to represent historical figures and social classes, drawing parallels between the farm’s descent into tyranny and the history of Soviet communism.
• Here, the prejudice and racism in Maycomb are compared to a disease, suggesting they are both harmful and spread uncontrollably.
• The diverging paths symbolize life’s different options and directions, and the choice of path represents a decision that shapes one’s future.
• In this analogy, experiences are likened to physical parts of a person, suggesting that they become integral to one’s identity.

Types of Analogy

• Literal Analogy : Compares two similar things or classes of things that have the same relationship. For example, “Just as a sword is the weapon of a warrior, a pen is the weapon of a writer.”
• Figurative Analogy : Involves a comparison between two things that are different in nature, often used to explain a concept or to persuade. For instance, comparing the mind to a computer.
• Relational Analogy : Focuses on the relationship between pairs of words. For example, “Hand is to glove as foot is to sock.” The relationship is about things that cover.
• Personal Analogy : Requires imagining oneself as an object or a situation. It’s often used in problem-solving to look at things from a different perspective.
• Predictive Analogy : Used to predict the outcome of some actions by comparing it to known outcomes in similar scenarios. For example, “If you overwater a plant, it dies; similarly, too much of anything, even a good thing, can be harmful.”
• Analogical Argument : Used in persuasive writing and speech, where an analogy is used as an argument or as a part of an argument.
• Negative Analogy : Focuses on comparing dissimilarities between two things. For example, “Arguing on the internet is unlike a sports competition; there are no clear winners.”
• Medical Analogy : Common in medical fields, where symptoms or conditions of a patient are compared to typical cases to diagnose or treat.
• Historical Analogy : Draws a comparison between historical events to explain or predict current events. For example, comparing modern political situations to historical ones.
• Mathematical Analogy : Involves comparing mathematical relationships, often used in teaching complex mathematical concepts.

How to Write an Analogy

• Identify the Core Idea or Concept : Begin by determining the main idea or concept you want to explain or enhance through the analogy.
• Find a Relatable Comparison : Choose a familiar or easily understandable object, situation, or concept that shares similarities or relationships with your core idea.
• Establish a Clear Relationship : Ensure that the relationship between the two entities in your analogy is clear and logical. The comparison should highlight the similarities or explain the concept effectively.
• Use Simple and Effective Language : The effectiveness of an analogy often lies in its simplicity. Use language that is easy to understand and avoids complexity.
• Be Consistent : Maintain consistency in the elements of your analogy. Mixing different metaphors or comparisons can lead to confusion.
• Test Your Analogy : Before finalizing, test your analogy to see if it makes the concept clearer and is understandable to your intended audience.

When to Use Analogy

• To Simplify Complex Ideas : Analogies are excellent for breaking down complex or abstract concepts into simpler, more relatable terms.
• In Teaching and Education : They are used to explain new or difficult subjects by relating them to something familiar to the students.
• To Persuade or Argue : In rhetoric and writing, analogies can make arguments more persuasive by drawing parallels that the audience can easily understand.
• To Enhance Writing : Writers often use analogies to add depth, creativity, and imagery to their writing, making it more engaging and vivid.
• In Problem-Solving : Analogies can help in seeing problems from a new perspective, leading to innovative solutions.

How Does Analogy Work

• By Establishing Relationships : Analogies work by drawing a parallel between two disparate entities, emphasizing their similarities in relation to each other.
• Through Familiarity and Understanding : They often use familiar concepts to explain unfamiliar ones, making new or complex information more digestible and easier to grasp.
• Creating Mental Images : Good analogies create vivid mental images, which can be more effective in communication than abstract concepts.
• Enhancing Memory and Retention : Because they often involve storytelling or imagery, analogies can be more memorable than straightforward explanations, aiding in better retention of the information.
• Building on Prior Knowledge : Analogies leverage the audience’s existing knowledge or experience, providing a foundation for understanding new information.

Analogies, when used effectively, can be powerful tools for communication, learning, and creativity, bridging gaps in understanding by connecting the unknown to the

25 Examples of Analogies

1. life is like a race.

2. Finding a Good Man is Like Finding a Needle in a Haystack

3. Just as a Sword is the Weapon of a Warrior, a Pen is the Weapon of a Writer

4. That’s as Useful as Rearranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic.

5. How a Doctor Diagnoses Diseases are Like How a Detective Investigates Crimes

6. Explaining a Joke is Like Dissecting a Frog

7. Just as a Caterpillar Comes out of its Cocoon, So we Must Come out of our Comfort Zone

8. A Movie is a Roller Coaster Ride of Emotions.

9. You are as Annoying as Nails on a Chalkboard.

10. Life is Like a Box of Chocolates – You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get!

11. Reasoning Analogy

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12. Analogy as the Core of Cognition

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13. Analogy by Similarity Example

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14. Semantic Analogy Example

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15. Teaching by Analogy Example

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16. Animal Analogies Example

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17. The Principle of Analogy

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18. Analogy as Exploration

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19. Science Analogy Example

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20. Practice Analogy Questions

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21. The Reaction Against Analogy

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22. Transformational Analogy Example

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23. Curve Analogies Template

24. Analogy and Transfer

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25. Analogy in Thinking Example

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What is an Analogy?

A  figurative analogy is used when you compare two completely different ideas or things and use its similarities to give an explanation of things that are hard to understand or are too sensitive. Analogies are often used in thesis , essay writing , report writing , and even in speeches .

Step 1: Identify the Two or More Things You Want to Compare

To start is to identify two or more words or phrases you may want to compare. This is the first step to writing your analogy. You must also be careful with the analogy you are going to be using, if your audiences are children, you can use analogy for kids . The important thing is to be able to explain the idea or the concept.

Step 2: Do Your Research on the Similarities

In order for you to explain and understand the similarities between the words or phrases that you are using for analogy, you must first do your research about it. Simply writing two words together to compare is not enough. It is also important for you to understand what these two words mean and how similar are they in order for them to be compared.

Step 3: Make the Analogies

Make or create the analogies once you have figured out the similarities of the words you have written. If you have not, go back to the second step and continue until you found them. The analogy must be in a simple sentence or a simple statement. Avoid using technical jargon that defeats the purpose of the analogy.

Step 4: Give the Explanation of the Chosen Analogies

The last step is to give out the explanation of the chosen analogies. The explanation will help give the reader the idea of what they are reading and can grasp the information from the analogies. Provided the fact that these chosen analogies details and examples to back it.

What is the difference with analogy, simile and metaphor?

More often than not, an analogy is sometimes mistaken with the other figures of  speech examples , namely  simile  and  metaphor , because these are used to seek relationships between concepts and things. The  figurative language  simile compares two objects that use comparison words such as ‘like’ and ‘as’ where the whole metaphor would compare two objects with the use of the said comparison words.

What are the elements of an analogy?

What you can expect in the elements of an analogy are as follows: the two or more concepts that need to be compared, the shared characteristics of these concepts, the differences of the concepts, the purpose, the clarification, and lastly the creativity.

What is the difference between analogy and idioms?

An analogy is a comparison of two or more things, topics or concepts that helps explain the topic. An idiom is a phrase that has a figurative language or meaning to it.

Analogy compares two completely different things and look for similarities between two things or concepts and it only focuses on that angle. The use and purpose of analogies may baffle any reader at first but once they would realize how analogies can help writers in making difficult and sensitive topics or things understandable, analogies might be used frequently.

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Analogy — Definition and Examples

What is an analogy?

An  analogy  is a comparison made to show how two things are similar for explanation or clarification. Although the things compared are physically different, the analogy identifies how they are figuratively similar.

Think of analogies as an extension of a metaphor or simile.

People use analogies to link unfamiliar ideas with common ones, making complex or abstract ideas easier to understand.

Analogy examples

It is common to use analogies to make comparisons in the English language. The following is an example analogy comparing a warrior's sword to a writer's pen:

Just as a sword is the weapon of a warrior, a pen is the weapon of a writer.

A warrior uses his sword as a weapon, while a writer's weapon is their words written with their pen.

In the next example, the analogy is comparing a book to a rollercoaster:

That book was a rollercoaster of emotion.

The book's plot had many emotional highs and lows, making it feel like you rode the ups and downs of a rollercoaster.

Analogy examples in literature

Analogies are commonly used in literature. A famous example can be found in  Romeo and Juliet  by William Shakespeare:

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, / by any other word would smell as sweet. / So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called.”

This analogy is saying a rose would smell the same even if it were called something different; therefore, Romeo's name does not define him.

Another example from literature is found in George Orwell's  Animal Farm:

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

In Orwell's analogy, the pigs have become that which they fought against (man).

The House in Paris  by Elizabeth Bowen contains this analogy:

Memory is to love what the sauce’r is to cup.

Like a saucer holds a cup, a memory holds onto love.

Analogy in poetry

Types of analogies.

An analogy can be both a literary device and a rhetorical device, depending upon its use.

As a rhetorical device, word analogies are often found on standardized tests. This assesses the test taker's ability to identify various relationships.

When writing a word analogy as a rhetorical device, colons stand in for words. Analogies written in this way use pairs of words to make a logical argument. Consider the following example:

Stove is to kitchen as bed is to bedroom

Stove : kitchen :: bed : bedroom

There are a variety of types of rhetorical verbal analogies that identify different kinds of relationships:

Analogy vs. metaphor vs. simile

A metaphor is a figure of speech used to compare or suggest a similarity between two items, whereas a simile is a comparison that uses the words "like" or "as." While metaphors and similes help writers show instead of tell, an analogy provides explanation or clarification.

Consider the following example comparing thoughts to a storm:

Metaphor : His thoughts were a storm.

Simile : His thoughts were like a storm.

Analogy : His thoughts were like a storm causing chaos.

Writers can use metaphors and similes to create analogies; however, not all metaphors and similes are analogies.

Learn more about  difference between metaphors, similes, and analogies .

Analogical arguments

Analogical reasoning is any thinking that involves an analogy. It compares something new with something known. Argument by analogy is a way to inform, persuade, or explain, such as in the following examples:

The new movie is supposed to be similar to the one that came out last summer, so it too is probably dull.

Not everyone had a computer in their homes 20 years ago, but most of them do now; therefore, one can expect the same of virtual reality.

The new planet is the same distance from its star as the Earth is from the sun, meaning it could support life.

30 Writing Topics: Analogy

Ideas for a Paragraph, Essay, or Speech Developed With Analogies

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

An analogy is a kind of comparison that explains the unknown in terms of the known, the unfamiliar in terms of the familiar.

A good analogy can help your readers understand a complicated subject or view a common experience in a new way. Analogies can be used with other methods of development to explain a process , define a concept, narrate an event, or describe a person or place.

Analogy isn't a single form of writing. Rather, it's a tool for thinking about a subject, as these brief examples demonstrate:

• "Do you ever feel that getting up in the morning is like pulling yourself out of quicksand? . . ." (Jean Betschart, In Control , 2001)
• "Sailing a ship through a storm is . . . a good analogy for the conditions inside an organization during turbulent times, since not only will there be the external turbulence to deal with, but internal turbulence as well . . ." (Peter Lorange, Leading in Turbulent Times , 2010)
• "For some people, reading a good book is like a Calgon bubble bath — it takes you away. . . ." (Kris Carr, Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor , 2008)
• "Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into wars, use chemical sprays to alarm and confuse enemies, capture slaves. . . ." (Lewis Thomas, "On Societies as Organisms," 1971)
• "To me, patching up a heart that'd had an attack was like changing out bald tires. They were worn and tired, just like an attack made the heart, but you couldn't just switch out one heart for another. . . ." (C. E. Murphy, Coyote Dreams , 2007)
• "Falling in love is like waking up with a cold — or more fittingly, like waking up with a fever. . . ." (William B. Irvine, On Desire , 2006)

British author Dorothy Sayers observed that analogous thinking is a key aspect of the writing process . A composition professor explains:

Analogy illustrates easily and to almost everyone how an "event" can become an "experience" through the adoption of what Miss [Dorothy] Sayers called an "as if" attitude. That is, by arbitrarily looking at an event in several different ways, "as if" if it were this sort of thing, a student can actually experience transformation from the inside. . . . The analogy functions both as a focus and a catalyst for "conversion" of event into experience. It also provides, in some instances not merely the To discover original analogies that can be explored in a paragraph , essay, or speech, apply the "as if" attitude to any one of the 30 topics listed below. In each case, ask yourself, "What is it like ?"

Thirty Topic Suggestions: Analogy

• Working at a fast-food restaurant
• Moving to a new neighborhood
• Starting a new job
• Quitting a job
• Watching an exciting movie
• Reading a good book
• Going into debt
• Getting out of debt
• Losing a close friend
• Leaving home for the first time
• Taking a difficult exam
• Making a speech
• Learning a new skill
• Gaining a new friend
• Responding to bad news
• Responding to good news
• Attending a new place of worship
• Dealing with success
• Dealing with failure
• Being in a car accident
• Falling in love
• Getting married
• Falling out of love
• Experiencing grief
• Experiencing joy
• Overcoming an addiction to drugs
• Watching a friend destroy himself (or herself)
• Getting up in the morning
• Resisting peer pressure
• Discovering a major in college
• 501 Topic Suggestions for Writing Essays and Speeches
• The Value of Analogies in Writing and Speech
• Classification Paragraph, Essay, Speech, or Character Study: 50 Topics
• Understanding Analogy
• 30 Writing Topics: Persuasion
• Learn How to Use Extended Definitions in Essays and Speeches
• Development in Composition: Building an Essay
• 60 Writing Topics for Extended Definitions
• Topic In Composition and Speech
• Definition and Examples of Transitional Paragraphs
• List of Topics for How-to Essays
• How to Structure an Essay
• How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech
• The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay
• Conclusion in Compositions
• Using Word Analogies

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Starting Word That’s Often Skipped

Jeremy Newton owes us an explanation.

By Sam Corbin

Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues

MONDAY PUZZLE — In a themed crossword, constructors tend to include a revealer, a kind of breadcrumb trail that leads us definitively to the puzzle’s trick. In today’s puzzle, in contrast, Jeremy Newton seems to have scattered the entire loaf — if we’re sticking with the bread analogy — throughout his grid.

After I got the gist of Mr. Newton’s theme, it was a delight to keep discovering new dimensions of its execution. Joel Fagliano, a senior puzzle editor for The New York Times, echoed this sentiment in his commentary on what made the grid stand out. “It’s so hard to come up with a simple concept that involves multiple layers like this,” he said. Mr. Fagliano also cited today’s crossword, which he said “unfolds beautifully,” as one of his favorite Monday puzzles of the past few years. And lucky us, we get to solve it now.

Today’s Theme

Before proceeding, I should apologize: The summary of today’s column is a play on words. I’m not saying that Mr. Newton owes us an explanation — I mean that he O’s us one. Because we learn, “by following the path of O’s in this puzzle’s grid” (33A), exactly what Mr. Newton is up to.

These O’s, which “Zig or zag” (11A) — i.e. TURN — through a winding route from left to right, represent a ball in a game of MINIGOLF (18A). I was especially delighted by this game’s alliterative clue: “Popular pastime played with putters.”

Holes in MINIGOLF are often designed so that their walls can act as conduits for the ball. And here, our ball ricochets from the TEE (58A) right into the CUP (8A), scoring a HOLE-IN-ONE SHOT (33/34/35A)! Solvers of the digital version should see a whimsical completion animation of the winning putt.

Ever more the wordsmith than the athlete, I’d say working out this theme was just as thrilling as the achievement it celebrates. And according to Mr. Fagliano, it wasn’t easy to build. “Even the elegance of HOLE / IN ONE / SHOT crossing the path of O’s in three ways, that’s just a remarkable feat of construction,” he said.

Tricky Clues

12A. For my money, YO DOG qualifies as a “Slangy greeting” only when its second word is spelled just as slangily as its first: “dawg.”

31A. The diagonal line of O’s was the only thing that clued me into the fact that a “Small group of trees” couldn’t be a copse. Only GROVE worked.

56A. The entry for “Zero chance, pal!” often has a partner phrase: “No way” tends to precede NO HOW. (If you solved this entry without trouble, you have know -how.)

7D. The “Topic of a wistful breakup song” is LOST LOVE, and the Times Crossword seems to have an opinion about who sings them best: On two previous occasions, this entry was clued using Adele.

9D. Whenever a clue uses abbreviations, our entry needs to as well. “Neighbor of Arg. and Braz.” is URU, short for Uruguay.

49D. What’s one way to “Try to lighten up?” In the case of a question-marked clue, go for wit; the answer is a DIET.

Constructor Notes

I love crossword themes that use a letter to symbolize a real-world object. A few fun examples in past New York Times puzzles include stacked H’s for a ladder and a column of I’s for a spider’s thread . For years I’ve tinkered with rolling the letter O around the puzzle like a golf ball. The concept finally clicked when I noticed that an O could zigzag neatly through the answer HOLE-IN-ONE SHOT. Because this puzzle is in a 15x15 grid and not a larger Sunday grid, it seemed perfect for a MINIGOLF theme. I arranged black squares to help form the kind of winding path you might find on a minigolf course. The circle for the CUP was there from the beginning of construction. And when the grid was nearly filled, using the shaded square to represent a TEE pad seemed like the best starting point. It makes me happy that two visual mainstays of crossword puzzles — the circled square and the shaded square — are joining forces for this theme. I’m very proud to call this my first Monday puzzle for The Times! I’d heard that Mondays were traditionally tougher to make, since every answer must be clean and intuitive, and the rumors were 100 percent legit. In particular, smoothing out answers along the ricocheting path of O’s was a formidable challenge. Thank you to the puzzle team for adding a special post-solve animation to the digital version! I hope you enjoyed this Monday crossword, which I unofficially call “That’s Putting It Nicely!”

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Sam Corbin writes about language, wordplay and the daily crossword for The Times. More about Sam Corbin

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