Analogy – The Informational Comparison

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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:

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

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.”

FAQ 🤔