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Irony
Definition of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor can be stated explicitly, as... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other... read full definition
Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis—Adults and Children:
In Chapter 1, Claudia narrates the first meeting between herself and Henry Washington. His demeanor differs from that of the other adults in Claudia and Frieda's life, making his arrival an exciting prospect for the two girls. Employing an indirect metaphor, Claudia notes that her expectations for Henry differed from the reality of him:
We looked sideways at him, saying nothing and expecting him to say nothing. Just to nod, as he had done at the clothes closet, acknowledging our existence. To our surprise, he spoke to us.
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Explanation and Analysis—Motherly Love:
In Chapter 1, Claudia expresses complex emotions about her mother. Although Mrs. MacTeer is often harsh with Claudia and Frieda, she loves them in her own way. Attempting to communicate the nature of this love, Claudia utilizes metaphor:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Love, thick and dark as Alaga syrup, eased up into that cracked window. I could smell it—taste it—sweet, musty, with an edge of wintergreen in its base—everywhere in that house. It stuck, along with my tongue, to the frosted windowpanes. It coated my chest, along with the salve, and when the flannel came undone in my sleep, the clear, sharp curves of air outlined its presence on my throat.
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Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—Cloak of Ugliness:
The unnamed narrator begins Chapter 3 with a series of passages breaking down the issues with the Breedloves' self-image. The family members appear ugly because they believe that they are ugly. The narrator outlines this through metaphor:
Unlock with LitCharts A+You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that it came from conviction, their conviction. It was as though some mysterious all-knowing master had given each one a cloak of ugliness to wear, and they had each accepted it without question.
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Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—Cold Wind:
In Chapter 4, Claudia catches Mr. Henry keeping company with two sex workers, China and the Maginot Line. As a young girl witnessing an adult sexual encounter, Claudia does not entirely know how to feel. She uses metaphor to describe her tumultuous emotions:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Showing brown teeth, China seemed to be genuinely enjoying Mr. Henry. The sight of him licking her fingers brought to mind the girlie magazines in his room. A cold wind blew somewhere in me, lifting little leaves of terror and obscure longing. I thought I saw a mild lonesomeness cross the face of the Maginot Line.
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