
SOCIETY FOR PURE ENGLISH
THREE ARTICLES ON METAPHOR - I. NOTES ON THE FUNCTION OF METAPHOR
II. SOME NOTES ON METAPHOR IN JOURNALISM
III. DEAD METAPHORS
IRRELEVANT ALLUSION
CORRESPONDENCE
IMPLICIT
PRACTICALLY
LITERALLY
INFINITELY
This compact study walks listeners through the art of metaphor, showing how a well‑chosen comparison can sharpen a writer’s intent and deepen a reader’s awareness. It explains why both simile and metaphor work best when they are not overly literal, and how the right amount of mental effort from the audience can amplify emotional impact. By dissecting the mechanics of “living” versus “dead” metaphors, the author reveals the subtle balance that keeps language vivid without distracting the mind.
The second part turns to the newsroom, mapping common pitfalls such as over‑extension, mixed images, and unsustained analogies that can sap a story’s clarity. Through lively examples, it teaches how to keep metaphors fresh, purposeful, and appropriately scaled to the tone of the piece. Listeners come away with practical insights for both literary craft and clear, compelling journalism.
Language
en
Duration
~44 minutes (42K characters)
Series
Society for pure english, Tract no. XI
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-08-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Founded in England in 1913, this reform-minded literary society tried to bring more clarity and care to written English. Its tracts capture a moment when writers and scholars treated language itself as something worth defending.
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