Analogy
Literary term · say it uh-NAL-uh-jee
An analogy is a comparison that explains something or supports an argument by showing how it resembles something else. It helps readers follow an unfamiliar idea through a more familiar situation, object, or relationship.
Ways analogy works
Explaining an idea
An analogy can make an abstract idea easier to grasp by comparing it with something concrete. The comparison can also expose what is wrong with an idea.
At the opening of Hard Times, the schoolchildren are compared to containers waiting to be filled with facts. This comparison exposes a view of education that leaves little room for imagination or independent thought.
In Hard Times by Charles Dickens
Supporting an argument
An analogy can suggest that because two things are alike in one way, they may be alike in another. A character may use this reasoning to justify a decision.
In Julius Caesar, Brutus compares Caesar to a snake still inside its egg, reasoning that he should be killed before he can become dangerous. The comparison helps Brutus justify acting against a threat that has not yet developed.
In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
How to spot analogy
- Find a passage that explains one thing by comparing it with another.
- Identify the features or relationships the two things share.
- Ask what the comparison helps explain or persuade you to accept.
What is the difference between an analogy and a metaphor?
An analogy explains or reasons through a comparison, while a metaphor describes one thing as another. They can overlap: a metaphor may provide the starting point for an analogy when the passage develops the comparison to explain an idea.
Does an analogy prove an argument?
An analogy does not prove an argument by itself. Two things can share some features but differ in ways that matter. Check whether the similarities actually support the conclusion, especially when a character uses a comparison to defend a difficult choice.
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