Homework! Oh, Homework!

 By Jack Prelutsky

Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink! I wish I could wash you away in the sink, if only a bomb would explode you to bits. Homework! Oh, homework! You’re giving me fits. I’d rather take baths with a man-eating shark, or wrestle a lion alone in the dark, eat spinach and liver, pet ten porcupines, than tackle the homework, my teacher assigns. Homework! Oh, homework! You’re last on my list, I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink. Homework! Oh, homework! I hate you! You stink!

 Summary of Homework! Oh, Homework!

  • Popularity of “Homework! Oh, Homework!”: The poem ‘Homework! Oh, Homework!’ was written by Jack Prelutsky, a well-known children’s poet. Its first publication dates back to 1999, and it is acclaimed for its exceptional composition that underscores the triviality of homework. The poem speaks about how mad homework can make students. The funny tone of the poem illustrates the speaker ’s disgust, hatred, and revulsion for homework. The poem gained immense popularity on account of its universal appeal. The exasperated yet humorous mood added further to its rhythm and melody.
  • “Homework! Oh, Homework!” As a Representative of Hatred : This poem is written from a child’s perspective who expresses his feelings related to homework. It begins when the speaker shows extreme hatred for homework and wishes to wash it away in the sink or to explode it into pieces. He dislikes homework so much that in the poem, he’d prefer to take a bath with a man-eating shark or wrestle a lion in the dark instead.. He further informs his readers that homework is the last on his list. He would rather be happy if it gets disappeared from his to-do list.
  • Major Themes in “Homework! Oh, Homework!” Hatred, student life, and homework revulsion are the major themes of the poem. The poem centers on the feelings of a student who has gone mad because of the study workload. Knowing it is a compulsion and the demand of his education, he desires to get rid of it. He hates homework so much that he would instead perform some insane and crazy actions rather than doing his homework. It is through this funny poetic piece, the poet sheds light on the problems students face during their student life.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Homework! Oh, Homework!

literary devices allow the writers to bring variety and color to their simple poetic pieces. Jack Prelutsky also made this poem worth read with the excessive use of these devices. The analysis used in this poem is analyzed below.

  • Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /o/ in “Homework! Oh, homework” and the sound of /oo/ in “would explode you to bits.”
  • Alliteration : Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /h/ in “Homework! Oh, homework” and /p/ sound in “pet ten porcupines.”
  • Apostrophe : An apostrophe is a device used to call somebody or something from afar. Here, the poet has used apostrophe to call homework a disgusting thing such as,
“Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink.”
  • Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /k/ in “than tackle the homework,” and the sound of /sh/ in “I wish I could wash you away in the sink.”
  • Enjambment : It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break ; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example,
“I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink.”
  • Hyperbole : Hyperbole is a device used to exaggerate any statement for the sake of emphasis. The writer used this device by comparing the homework more difficult even than wrestling with a lion or man eating shark.
  • Irony : Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning differs from the actual meaning. The writer has used this device in the opening stanza of the poem while talking about the self-recognition, such as,
“ Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink.”
  • Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “You’re last on my list”, “I wish I could wash you away in the sink” and “eat spinach and liver.”
  • Metaphor : It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The poem shows the use of extended metaphors of homework, comparing it with several things that he hates the most in life.
  • Personification : The poem shows the use of personification as the poet has personified homework, showing it having life and emotions of its own.
  • Symbolism : Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The poem shows the use of the symbols of “stink” and “giving me fits” as signs of anger and hatred.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Homework! Oh, Homework!

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

  • Diction : The poem shows descriptive diction having metaphors, symbols, and hyperbole.
  • Rhyme Scheme : The poem follows an ABCD rhyme scheme , and this pattern continues until the end.
  • Repetition : There is a repetition of the verses “Homework! Oh, homework! /I hate you! You stink!” which have created a musical quality in the poem.
  • Refrain : The lines occurring repeatedly at some distance in a poem are called a refrain . The verses, “Homework! Oh, homework! /I hate you! You stink!” are, therefore, a refrain.
  • Stanza : A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are three stanzas in this poem, with each comprising a different number of verses.

Quotes to be Used

These lines are useful while talking about the things that one does not want to do intentionally.

“ You’re last on my list, I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink.”

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Summary and Analysis of Homework by Allen Ginsberg: 2022

Introduction to the  poet:.

Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet born on 3 rd June, 1926 at Newark, New Jersey, U.S as the son of an English teacher and Russian expatriate . He was one of the leading figures of the  Beat Generation  of the 1950s and the  counterculture that would soon follow. He vigorously opposed  militarism ,  economic materialism  and  sexual repression . One of the most influential writers of his time known as Beat Generation, he exemplified various aspects of the counterculture, such as his views on drugs, hostility to  bureaucracy  and openness to  Eastern religions . He came into the spotlight after the publication of “Howl and Other Poems” in 1956. “Howl” was a poem in the tradition of  Walt Whitman , and a protest of outburst and despair against a destructive, abusive society.The ‘Kaddish’ is one of his purest poem and he soon rose to fame. He undertook non violent protest against everything from Vietnam War to War of Drugs. There had been controversies against his homosexual relationship with many men, specifically his lifelong partner,   Peter Orlovsky . In 1986 Ginsberg was awarded the Golden Wreath by the  Struga Poetry Evenings  International Festival in Macedonia, the second American poet to be so awarded since W. H. Auden. He died surrounded by family and friends in his  East Village  loft in New York City, succumbing to  liver cancer  via complications of  hepatitis , on 5th April, 1997.

The poem “Homework” by Allen Ginsberg is a metaphorical poem speaking about the socio-political background, the economy, the corruption and various issues that surrounded the nations in that period. This poem reflects much upon the poet’s thought and his continuous anti – violent movements. Through his words and the strength of his writing, this poem distinctly reflects on the serious socio-political, economical, environmental, military unrests that the nations were facing.

Setting of Homework:

The poem is set at a period when the poet had been occupied with the Vietnam War. From United Nations to Iran, Africa, Asia were facing issues of corruption, war, sociological, political, military innuendo. The dramatic changes in the international front, the troublesome and disturbing situation that the world was facing were his concern. Though it seems that the poet was doing his laundry at his home, this poem actually concerned about the events of the nations. The poem, in it’s most wonderful form is a critical mockery with an increasingly developed willingness to bring forth goodness among various nations.

Style of Homework:

The poem is written in free verse.

Poetic devices in Homework:

Alliteration : “Rub a dub dub for Rocky Flats and Los Alamos.”  as the author repeats the ‘ub’ sound in “Rub a Dub Dub” is an alliteration used in the poem. Onomatopoeia: “Rub a dub dub” is an onomatopoeia used. Assonance : In the first stanza, “If ….Iran”  as he repeats the vowel I in  “If..I..I’d..Iran” assonance is used as a poetic device . Personification: “..squeeze out …state”  as Ginsberg gives the country a personal trait of being able to tell on other states when people have done wrong. Imagery: “I’d throw in …….in the jungle” as it gives us a visual of him cleaning the country and putting back animals and birds is yet an imagery. Hyperbole : Hyperbole is used repeatedly for exaggeration to indicate the urgency and desperation of situations: “Wash my dirty Iran” “Rub ……North Pole “ “Put the planet in the drier & let it sit 20 minutes or Aeon till it came out clean”. Metaphor: The whole poem acts as a metaphor to awaken our consciousness by stating that the poet wants to cleanse the world like he is doing the laundry in a washing machine.

Summary of Homework:

The poem deals with massive message about the world’s nationwide changes. On the international front, the reforms and issues in the world that had been faced by the nations was the imminent concern of the poem. The poem starts with the poet wishing to wash Iran. The first line itself amazes us with the transformation from the domestic affairs to the national thought. Yet, when we move through the lines we realise it is not only Iran but also the United States  that he wants to clean. He is concerned about the environmental hazards that the generation have been facing. Thus, he wants to regain the environmental counterpoise, the old environmental equilibrium. That is why he says : “put all the birds and elephants back in the jungle,” He also wants to cleanse the phenomenal water bodies that had been subject to pollution. As a matter of fact, all the air pollution, soil pollution and water pollution, he wants to clean them up. Rocky Flats Plant was a former  nuclear weapons  production facility in the  western   United States and Los Alamos is a town in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States that is recognized as the birthplace of the first atomic bomb. The love canal was supposed to be  a short canal between the upper and lower Niagara Rivers , to provide electricity. However, it became a dumping ground later that exploded after few years . When he mentions these he wants to get rid of these disastrous weapons and the man made events that had been harming the countries for a destruction leading to environmental tragedies taking lives of people, cause births with defects and mis balance the environmental equilibrium, disastrously. The acid rain that destroyed Parthenon’s magnificent marble relief frieze panels, chemically transformed into soft gypsum or dissolved the marvelous structure of Sphinx at Egypt, made of limestone. The blue sky , the white snowy clouds , the clean Mediterranean basin , Thames, Lake Erie are all the wonderful things that the poet wants to recover. The disastrous pollution and the corruption is something the poet wants to get rid of. Agent Orange is an  herbicide  and  defoliant  chemical. It is widely known for its use by the  U.S. military  as part of its  herbicidal warfare  program,  Operation Ranch Hand during the  Vietnam War  . The poet wants to wash out the Agent orange, too, that harmed the people of Vietnam. The following stanzas focus on the way the poet wants to change the nations, their corruptions, the wars that are caused. He wants to put the whole planet ‘in a drier’, this means, he wants to obliterate all the hazards, socio-political issues, wars and bring back harmony and peace in the planet.

Central Idea of Homework:

The central idea of the poem deals with the conveying of a message of political, economical, and military unrest in the international realm. The poet speaks of the worldly hazard that the nations are facing, leading to destruction of nature in the hand of mankind. With the developing era, the age old destruction brought by mankind on Mother Earth is something the human species should be ashamed of. Further, the effort of him desiring to cleanse the world stands as a suitable example of what the mankind must focus on: not his domestic affair but for the betterment of the world, for future generation. The amount of destruction we did is worth mending and not be kept for worse. This poem gives one the magnanimous ideas about the massacre caused by the human, to this remarkable creation, Nature.

Critical Analysis of Homework:

The poem describes how the poet would metaphorically cleanse many problems of the world in a metaphorical washing machine. The poem displays a good deal of humour, and its socio political points are thought provoking. The poem emphasises on the socio-political and environmental problems that the world faces. From cleaning the Amazon or the polluted Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to the effort for maintaining the equilibrium of environment by putting back all the birds and elephants back in the jungle of Africa: the poet is trying to wash the pollution war and violence in the world. Throughout the poem, the various examples suggest that the poet is meaning to strike a chord in our heart making us aware of the ongoing torture that the world is confronting in the hands of mankind. He imbibes a sense in us how we, as humans, must be ashamed of our deeds that has put mother earth in such a devastating bearings. Through his act of cleaning he wants to launder the world and the whole poem stands as a metaphor to awaken us about our misdeeds on Mother Nature.

Tone of Homework:

The tone of the poem is more sincere that it initially seems to be. Though the first line states it is a poem that would be more of a domestic one soon we realise this poem has universal front. The tone from the beginning to the end is light hearted mixed with satires and a great sense of humiliation to the human species for our torture on Mother Earth. It acts as a metaphor for cleansing the world rather than being concerned about one’s domestic affair.

Typical to the style of the Beats Generation, this poem is an ideally unconventional poem pointing out to the world crisis , and stands supreme of the era. Contributor: Bidisha Das  

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25 Metaphors for Homework

Homework – a word that can evoke a wide range of emotions in students, from dread to determination. It’s a crucial aspect of education, a bridge between classroom learning and independent understanding.

However, sometimes it feels like a never-ending struggle. But what if we looked at homework differently? What if we used metaphors to describe it, making it seem less like a chore and more like an adventure?

In this article, we’ll explore various metaphors for homework, each shedding light on a unique aspect of this academic endeavor.

25 metaphors for homework

Metaphors for Homework

1. a set of instructions or steps.

Meaning: Homework can be likened to a set of instructions or steps, similar to following a recipe.

In a Sentence: Just as a chef follows a recipe to create a culinary masterpiece, students follow the instructions in their homework to master a subject.

2. A Road to Travel

Meaning: Homework can be seen as a journey or path towards learning and understanding, like traveling down a road.

In a Sentence: Each assignment is a mile marker on the road of education, guiding students on their quest for knowledge.

3. A Fish to Catch

Meaning: Homework can involve trying to “catch” new concepts or ideas, similar to how one might try to catch a fish.

In a Sentence: Students cast their mental nets into the vast sea of information, hoping to catch the elusive understanding hidden beneath the surface.

4. A Ship to Steer

Meaning: Homework can involve navigating your way through new material, similar to steering a ship.

In a Sentence: Just as a captain must navigate through treacherous waters, students steer their way through complex assignments, avoiding pitfalls along the way.

5. A Tool to Use

Meaning: Homework can be seen as a means to an end, like a tool that is used to accomplish a task.

In a Sentence: Homework serves as a versatile tool in the educational toolbox, helping students sharpen their cognitive skills.

6. A Canvas to Paint

Meaning: Homework can be seen as an opportunity to create and express yourself, similar to painting on a canvas.

In a Sentence: Each assignment is a blank canvas where students can brush strokes of their unique understanding, creating a masterpiece of comprehension.

7. A Battle to Fight

Meaning: Homework can sometimes feel like a struggle or a challenge that needs to be overcome, like a battle.

In a Sentence: Armed with knowledge as their sword and determination as their shield, students engage in the intellectual battles of homework.

8. A Journey to Embark On

Meaning: Homework can be seen as a journey of discovery and learning, like embarking on a new adventure.

In a Sentence: Every homework assignment is an exciting expedition into the uncharted territories of knowledge, full of surprises and revelations.

9. A Treasure to Hunt For

Meaning: Homework can involve searching for and uncovering new information or knowledge, similar to hunting for treasure.

In a Sentence: With each assignment, students become modern-day treasure hunters, sifting through information to find the golden nuggets of wisdom hidden within.

10. A Plant to Water

Meaning: Homework can involve nurturing and maintaining your understanding of a subject, similar to watering a plant to keep it healthy.

In a Sentence: Just as a gardener cares for their plants, students must regularly tend to their understanding by completing homework assignments to ensure it grows and flourishes.

11. A Puzzle to Solve

Meaning: Homework can be likened to a puzzle, where students must piece together information and concepts to form a complete picture.

In a Sentence: Each assignment is a puzzle waiting to be solved, with every answer contributing to the bigger picture of understanding.

12. A Marathon to Run

Meaning: Homework can be seen as a long-distance race, where consistency and pacing are key to reaching the finish line successfully.

In a Sentence: Education is not a sprint; it’s a marathon, and homework is a daily training session to build endurance and knowledge.

13. A Symphony to Compose

Meaning: Homework can be compared to composing a symphony, where different elements must harmonize to create a beautiful piece of work.

In a Sentence: Like a composer crafting a symphony, students craft their assignments, ensuring that each part contributes to the overall harmony.

14. A Code to Crack

Meaning: Homework can be like deciphering a complex code, where students work diligently to understand and solve the intricacies of a subject.

In a Sentence: Each assignment presents a code to be cracked, and with perseverance, students unveil the secrets hidden within.

15. A Garden to Cultivate

Meaning: Homework can be seen as a garden to cultivate, where students plant the seeds of knowledge and nurture their growth over time.

In a Sentence: Just as a gardener tends to their plants, students must care for their understanding, allowing it to bloom with each completed assignment.

16. A Map to Follow

Meaning: Homework can be likened to following a map, where each task guides students on a journey through the landscape of learning.

In a Sentence: Each homework assignment is a map, leading students through the terrain of knowledge, helping them explore and navigate.

17. A Story to Write

Meaning: Homework can be compared to writing a story, where students craft narratives of their own understanding and insights.

In a Sentence: With each assignment, students become storytellers, weaving together facts and ideas to create compelling narratives of learning.

18. A Recipe to Master

Meaning: Homework can be seen as a recipe to master, with each step representing a key ingredient in the dish of comprehension.

In a Sentence: Just as a chef perfects a recipe, students perfect their understanding by diligently following the steps of their assignments.

19. A Puzzle to Assemble

Meaning: Homework can be like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, where students fit together the pieces of knowledge to complete the big picture.

In a Sentence: Each homework task is a puzzle piece, and students become expert puzzle solvers, completing the grand educational image.

20. A Building to Construct

Meaning: Homework can be likened to constructing a building, where each assignment contributes to the foundation of knowledge.

In a Sentence: Education is a construction project, and students are the builders, laying each brick of understanding with their homework efforts.

21. A Sculpture to Shape

Meaning: Homework can be compared to sculpting a masterpiece, where students chisel away at their understanding to reveal the beauty of knowledge.

In a Sentence: Each assignment is a block of marble, and students are the sculptors, shaping their comprehension with each refined detail.

22. A Puzzle to Navigate

Meaning: Homework can be like navigating through a labyrinth, where students must find their way through complex concepts and ideas.

In a Sentence: Much like an intrepid explorer in a maze, students navigate the intricate paths of homework assignments, aiming to emerge victorious.

23. A Bridge to Cross

Meaning: Homework can be seen as a bridge connecting what students know to what they need to learn, helping them cross over to a deeper understanding.

In a Sentence: With each assignment, students build bridges of knowledge, enabling them to cross over into uncharted territories of learning.

24. A Puzzle to Piece Together

Meaning: Homework can be likened to piecing together a jigsaw puzzle, where each element represents a crucial part of the overall comprehension.

In a Sentence: Just as puzzle enthusiasts meticulously connect pieces to reveal a picture, students piece together concepts in their assignments to see the complete educational image.

25. A Song to Compose

Meaning: Homework can be compared to composing a musical masterpiece, where students harmonize the notes of knowledge to create beautiful compositions.

In a Sentence: Like composers crafting symphonies, students craft their assignments, ensuring that every element contributes to the melodious tune of understanding.

These metaphors for homework offer a rich tapestry of perspectives, each highlighting a distinct facet of the educational journey. By adopting these metaphors, students can shift their mindset from mere homework completion to engaging in exciting adventures, solving puzzles, composing symphonies, and nurturing gardens of knowledge. Homework becomes not just a task but a canvas for creativity and exploration.

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Metaphor Examples in Poetry with Analysis

Become a metaphor master.

Make sure that what you learn is valuable beyond the walls of the classroom. As you study examples of metaphors in poetry, focus on the lasting benefits of becoming a metaphor master. Use the following guidelines.

  • You should know what a metaphor is if you are studying examples of metaphors in poetry. Simply knowing the definition, however, is not sufficient.
  • You should be able to identify examples of metaphors in poetry on your own.
  • You should be able to explain the purpose for the metaphor and analyze how it contributes to the theme of the poem. I have provided analysis with my examples to show you what I mean.
  • You should be able to write poems containing a metaphor.
  • You should be able to use metaphors in your own writing to communicate more clearly.

Once you are able to own metaphors and use them to promote your ideas clearly, you will have become a metaphor master. Let’s begin by analyzing the following examples.

Poems with Metaphors

Poem : “I know why the caged bird sings” by Maya Angelou Metaphor : The entire poem is a metaphor, with the caged bird representing those who have not freedom. Let’s take a look at the second and third stanzas:

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage / Can seldom see through his bars of rage / His wings are clipped and his feet are tied / So he opens his throat to sing. / The caged bird sings with a fearful trill / Of things unknown but longed for still / And his tune is heard on the distant hill for / The caged bird sings of freedom.

Analysis : A caged bird is unable to enjoy the freedom of other birds due to its cage, clipped wings, and tied feet. African-Americans during Angelou’s time were restricted by unfair laws and societal oppression. Freedom is symbolized by the caged bird’s beautiful song. As long as the bird is in the cage, he will not reach his true potential. Although the context of the poem is important, one shouldn’t limit its application to one group of people or one period. A caged bird could be any group of oppressed people. It could mean individuals. The cage could represent society, physical barriers, fear, addiction or any self-defeating behavior, with the bird’s song representing the true self that longs for something greater in life.

Another Example

Poem : “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar Metaphor : I know why the caged bird beats his wing / Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; / For he must fly back to his perch and cling / When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; / And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars / And they pulse again with a keener sting– / I know why he beats his wing! Analysis : Dunbar uses a metaphor comparing a caged bird beating its wings against its cage until they bleed to his own struggle against oppression. The bird’s physical scars metaphorically refer to the mental scars of oppression. The phrase old, old scars may represent the entrenched racism that had existed in the United States since its founding.

One More Example

Poem : “Alley Rats” by Carl Sandburg Metaphor : The title is a metaphor comparing gangsters to alley rats. Metaphor : And another manner of beard assumed in their chatter a verbal guise / Of “mutton chops,” “galways,” “feather dusters.” Analysis : Sandburg lists different names for beards worn by gangsters. He cleverly notes that the names of the beards are a verbal guise used to cover their hideous acts, much in the same way the beards disguise their faces. Metaphor : two of them croaked on the same day at a “necktie party” … if we employ the metaphors of their lips. Analysis : Sandburg uses a gangster metaphor to describe two gang members being hanged–irony at its finest, but no more ironic than the glorified press reports of their doings.

This post is part of the series: Analyzing the Elements of Poetry

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Technically, there are no such thing as "metaphor poems." Instead, there are poems with metaphors in them, poems that make use of metaphor to be most effective. Of course, a metaphor is a way to describe something by comparing it to something else (without the words "like" or "as").

Apple of My Eye drawing

Metaphor Poem #1

Apple of My Eye You're the apple of my eye, The wisdom of my tooth. You're the shot heard 'round the world And that's the honest truth!

Poem and Art by Denise Rodgers Copyright©Denise Rodgers Permissions

In the first poem, the first three lines all have metaphors. We've all heard the expression, "you're the apple of my eye." (It is common enough to be a cliche.) Of course, no one has an apple in their eye unless they had an eating incident. It is meant to say that the person mentioned is very special to them.

Line number two contains, "the wisdom of my tooth." Okay, we all have wisdom teeth in the way back or our jaws. Who knows why they are called this. However, in the poem, the words tell us "you are" the wisdom. This means, once again, that the words (or the poet) considers the person or object to the poem to be very wise.

Line three of this poem says "you're the shot heard round the world." Well, a person is definitely not a shot heard around the world, but it would indicate the mammoth importance of this person.

The last line is not a metaphor, but "that's the honest truth" would confirm that this is how the poet feels. 

Metaphor Poem #2

The second of the "metaphor poems is also loaded with metaphors. You don't really dig for a poem, or for a clue. There is no shovel involved, but it does make a nice metaphor, or picture, in your mind. And when was the last time you saw rhythm and meter "prancing and romancing"? Read the poem and see how many metaphors you can find.

Boy in miner's hat drawing.

Mining for a Poem Mining for a poem pining to go home to where the rhyme and meter make some sense. Digging for a clue for what my words should do all safely bound within a picket fence.

Searching for a rhyme is not a waste of time, and rhythm must be meter's closest friend. Together they go dancing, lithely prancing and romancing till the poem comes to a satisfying end.

by Denise Rodgers Copyright© Denise Rodgers A Little Bit of Nonsense All Rights Reserved Art by Julie Martin

Metaphor Poem #3

Man on ladder drawing.

Ladder of Success He climbed the ladder of success. Adventure was his name. His eyes were windows to his soul. His actions were his fame.

Poem and Art by Denise Rodgers Copyright©Denise Rodgers Permissions   

In the last of the metaphor poems, once again, the first three lines all have metaphors. We all know what it means, but the truth is no one actually climbs a ladder to succeed. Unless his first or last name is "Adventure," Adventure is not really his name, just his image. And while we may believe that eyes are windows to the soul, there is no glass or slider, or any way to open these windows. It is simply a metaphor.

More pages to help you become a poet!

Repetition in poetry sets the mood and the rhythm of a given poem. Here are examples of poems using this device.

Repetition in poetry sets the mood and the rhythm of a given poem. Here are examples of poems using this device.

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This is the place to publish kids poems -- and get their words out into the world!

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Metaphor Poems

Metaphor Poems

Metaphorical Poems

People have used metaphors since the birth of mankind. Metaphors are a way to get around censorship as well as to help us see truths that we may not be able to face if they were stated plainly. It is a way to accentuate beauty as well as pain through this medium of the unstated comparison. When you are reading an appropriate metaphor you are immediately drawn between the truth of the comparison that is being alluded to. The ability to understand metaphoric language opens the key to poetry of tremendous beauty.

34 Metaphor Examples in Popular Poetry

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1. Mighty Oak

  • By Kathy J. Parenteau
  • Published by Family Friend Poems September 2010 with permission of the Author.

Stand tall, oh mighty oak, for all the world to see. Your strength and undying beauty forever amazes me. Though storm clouds hover above you, Your branches span the sky

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  • Rating 4.44

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This poem has greatly touched me. The poet has a firm faith in his father, which every son ought to have. A father is the center point for a son's life. To have faith in him and live the life...

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2. Love Is A Mirror

  • Published by Family Friend Poems August 2017 with permission of the Author.

A sharpened dagger stabbed in his heart, Ripping in two, ripping apart. It took only a few words, but her words cut him deep, Stealing emotions, making him weak.

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  • Rating 4.51

Poem of the Day

I just recently recovered from a heartbreak - a betrayal from a lady l invested all my emotions and mind. It was so hard for me to believe l got betrayed by someone l bet my life on. l was...

3. A Broken Family Tree

  • By Lori McBride
  • Published by Family Friend Poems July 2006 with permission of the Author.

Analysis of Form and Technique

I am one of many Small branches of a broken tree, Always looking to the ones above For guidance, strength and security.

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I echo all the stories that have gone before mine. It's amazing, it's moving, it's a poem written with so much feeling and depth. Family should be everything - supportive, comforting,...

4. The Spider And The Fly

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  • By Mary Howitt

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly; "'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you may spy. The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, And I have many curious things to show when you are there."

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Poem of the Day

This is a beautiful poem, very beautiful! It can as well be a warning to school girls who are prone to dating those men out there. Symbolically, the spider in the poem is a male and the fly...

5. The Life Of A Leaf

  • By Paul Holmes
  • Published by Family Friend Poems February 12, 2023 with permission of the Author.

SPRING I slowly unfurl to the wide World Stretching up to the blue sky

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  • Rating 4.55

6. Promises Of A New Day

  • By Belinda Stotler
  • Published by Family Friend Poems November 2019 with permission of the Author.

The perpetual cadence of the vast sea Stirs a restless desire that engulfs me. Like an infinite force I dare not impede, Briefly rushing in - only to then recede.

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I used to think that I was nothing, but I'm not anything - I am something - that is a talented, intelligent, calm, kind, pretty, artistic, unique girl who is loved by everyone around me. I...

7. Rose Painted

  • Published by Family Friend Poems June 2015 with permission of the Author.

If I were a Rose painted black, would you cast me aside like blackened, burnt rice? Would my color tarnish my sweet smell?

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  • Rating 4.48
This was a very true poem! I love the meaning, and it really brings out the idea of discrimination by color and how bad it is. I love it!
  • Published by Family Friend Poems February 2015 with permission of the Author.

Love is a walk in the rain at night, Two hands holding onto each other tight; Love is honey on a pair of lips, Onto a tender heart it drips;

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  • Rating 4.37
I honestly really like both of the poems you have written. They are beautiful and have such meaning behind them, so much that every sentence strikes my heart and seeps into my soul. Your...

9. A New Beginning

  • By Troy Martin, Jr.
  • Published by Family Friend Poems June 2006 with permission of the Author.

A little egg under her mother's wings. Yet to be born into the world of things. A crack and a pop, out she came.

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  • Rating 4.31
Yes it touches to my heart. As we are the parents who do this for our children to make them strongest on earth.

10. Endure Like A Tree

  • By Alicia Quetzalcoatl
  • Published by Family Friend Poems May 2015 with permission of the Author.

To get through life you have to endure as a tree does. When Mother Nature tries to bring you down, You will never fall; you will stand your ground. You will encounter burning flames.

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Hello I am Salih Abass. I lost my father while I was very young, and I was taken away from my mother to my grandmother even before I was two years. She took me to school. I lost my grandmom...

11. Shipwreck

  • By Devavrat Bishwa
  • Published by Family Friend Poems January 2017 with permission of the Author.

Like a gentle wave, you swayed against my ship. With a gentle breeze, you guided me forward. As the sun sank into the ocean,

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This helped me get through a rough time, and it described everything so perfectly from the start all the way to the end. Thank you. It truly helped a lot.

12. Note To Self

  • By Donna Marie
  • Published by Family Friend Poems January 2018 with permission of the Author.

Be like the willow that bends, shade that it sends, peace that it lends.

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  • Rating 4.27
This is an amazing poem - saying so much in very few words. Things don't always go the way we want, and sometimes we have to adapt and do so cheerfully - a very important lesson. It is also...

13. Skeletons

  • By Debbie Grenier
  • Published by Family Friend Poems June 2011 with permission of the Author.

The welcome mat outside my door is dusty, old & worn 'cuz people have been entering in since the day that I was born

  • Fav orited 22
  • Rating 4.24

14. The Mountain

  • By Emily Dickinson

The mountain sat upon the plain In his eternal chair, His observation omnifold, His inquest everywhere.

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  • Rating 4.20
  • By Carl Sandburg

The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking

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  • Rating 4.09
My dear neighbor, Nellie, who is in her 80s, asked me, as I am an artist, to paint a picture for her to give to her husband for Christmas. She said he loves the poem "Here Comes the Fog" by...

16. The Oak And The Rose

  • By Shel Silverstein

An oak tree and a rosebush grew, Young and green together, Talking the talk of growing things- Wind and water and weather.

  • Rating 3.25

17. Stout Sprout

  • By Hannah R. Soummers
  • Published by Family Friend Poems April 2020 with permission of the Author.

A sunflower will grow With much beauty to show, But the wind must blow, Which brings the rain and the snow.

  • Rating 4.65

18. Through Rain, Through Shine

  • Published by Family Friend Poems June 2019 with permission of the Author.

A Grand oak A majestic figure Always standing straight

  • Fav orited 4
  • Rating 4.57

19. My Boat

  • By Darren A. Mccallum
  • Published by Family Friend Poems August 2019 with permission of the Author.

You were my boat, sleek by design. I was your jetty, one of a kind. We were deeply in love and made for each other, And I promised I'd never harbour another.

  • Fav orited 28

20. My Little Seed

  • By My ObsE.R.vation
  • Published by Family Friend Poems July 19, 2023 with permission of the Author.

I had a little seed that I had found upon the ground, I kept it in my pocket where it was safe and sound. What may it be, this tiny little seed, now tucked inside my cloak, could it be a sugar maple, or perhaps a mighty oak?

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Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade

Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade

Dive into the vibrant world of metaphor poems tailored for 5th grade students! This comprehensive guide is packed with vivid metaphor examples, making it easier for young minds to grasp and utilize this powerful literary device. Whether it’s comparing emotions to a rollercoaster ride or likening the morning sun to a golden crown, we provide engaging and relatable examples that resonate with young learners. Our tips and tricks will help budding poets unleash their creativity, transforming ordinary descriptions into captivating, metaphor-rich poetry. Step into the world of imaginative expression and watch as words weave magic!

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What is the Best Example of Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade?

what is the best example of metaphor poems for 5th grade

Discover the charm of metaphor poems specifically designed for 3rd graders! Our collection showcases the best examples that combine simplicity with creativity, making them ideal for young learners. Each poem is a treasure trove of imagination, where everyday objects transform into sources of wonder. These examples not only enhance language skills but also encourage children to view the world through a lens of creativity and curiosity, sparking a lifelong love for poetry. Perfect for classroom discussions or at-home fun!

List of Metaphors Poem for 5th Grade

lists of metaphors poem for 5th grade

1. “The Mighty Oak”

“The Mighty Oak” is a poem that celebrates the strength and resilience found in nature. Originating from the common metaphor of comparing a tree to a person, this poem uses the oak tree as a symbol of endurance and growth. Metaphor poems are an excellent tool for 5th graders to explore the beauty and complexity of language. These poems, rich in Metaphorical Phrases and Metaphorical Poems , allow students to delve into the world of Extended Metaphor Examples .

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  • “An ancient warrior in the forest” – Throughout the poem: Represents the oak tree’s enduring and majestic presence, symbolizing strength and resilience.
  • “Leaves whispering secrets” – Mentioned in the middle: Suggests the idea of nature communicating and holding wisdom.
  • “Roots gripping the earth like hands” – Described towards the end: Emphasizes the tree’s stability and connection to its environment.

2. “Winter’s Blanket”

“Winter’s Blanket” is a metaphor-rich poem that personifies winter and its effects on the landscape. Originating from the imagery of a blanket covering the earth, it’s used to teach children about personification and metaphorical language, portraying winter’s chill and beauty.

Download Full Poem Winter's Blanket PDF

  • “Snowflakes dancing like ballerinas” – Early in the poem: Illustrates the gentle and graceful fall of snow.
  • “The moon, a silver lantern in the sky” – Mid-poem: Depicts the moon as a source of light guiding through the darkness of winter nights.
  • “Frost painting the windows” – Mentioned towards the end: Suggests the idea of nature being an artist, creating beauty on mundane surfaces.

3. “Ocean’s Melody”

“Ocean’s Melody” is a poetic journey into the heart of the sea, using metaphors to describe the ocean’s sounds and movements. It’s a popular piece for teaching about imagery and metaphor, depicting the ocean as a living entity full of mystery and music.

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  • “Waves whispering tales of the deep” – Throughout the poem: Conveys the idea of the ocean having ancient stories to tell.
  • “The sea, a mirror to the sky” – Midway through: Reflects the connection between the sea and the sky, showing harmony in nature.
  • “Tides, the heartbeat of the ocean” – In the final lines: Personifies the ocean, giving it a rhythmic, life-like quality.

4. “The Sun’s Journey”

“The Sun’s Journey” is a metaphorical exploration of the sun’s daily path across the sky. It’s often used to introduce children to the concept of metaphors related to time and the natural world, presenting the sun as a traveler on an endless journey.

Download Full Poem The Sun's Journey PDF

  • “A fiery chariot racing across the sky” – Early in the poem: Portrays the sun as a dynamic and powerful force.
  • “Golden fingers stretching to the horizon” – Mid-poem: Symbolizes the sun’s rays reaching out to touch the earth.
  • “The dusk, a blanket tucking in the day” – Towards the end: Personifies nightfall as a caretaker of the day.

5. “The Forest’s Whisper”

“The Forest’s Whisper” delves into the mystical aspects of a forest, using metaphors to describe its sounds, sights, and essence. This poem is a favorite for teaching about the interconnectedness of life and the mysteries of nature.

Download Full Poem The Forest's Whisper PDF

  • “Trees speaking in rustling tongues” – Throughout the poem: Implies the communication between trees and their ancient wisdom.
  • “A canopy of emerald stars” – Mentioned in the middle: Compares the leaves to stars, highlighting the forest’s beauty.
  • “Shadows playing hide and seek” – Described towards the end: Personifies shadows as playful entities in the mysterious forest.

Famous Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade

1. “the road not taken” by robert frost.

This iconic poem by Robert Frost is renowned for its deep metaphorical significance. Originating from Frost’s personal experiences, it has become a staple in American poetry, often used in educational settings to teach the concept of choices and their consequences. They are also excellent for discussing Metaphors for Life and Metaphors for Love , as they often touch on themes that are universal and timeless.

  • “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” – Opening Line : This metaphor compares life choices to paths in a wood, suggesting that decisions lead to different life journeys.
  • “And sorry I could not travel both” – Line 2 : Here, Frost uses a metaphor to express the impossibility of experiencing every opportunity in life.
  • “I took the one less traveled by” – Penultimate Line : This metaphor implies choosing a unique, individual path in life, rather than following the crowd.

2. “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson’s poem is a masterful use of metaphor, portraying hope as a bird. It’s widely taught in schools for its simplicity and depth, illustrating how hope sings in the soul. “Hope is the Thing with Feathers”can be used to explore Metaphors in Business Talk and Metaphors for Personality Traits , showing how metaphorical language can be applied in various contexts.

  • “Hope is the thing with feathers” – Opening Line : This metaphor likens hope to a bird, suggesting it is uplifting and ever-present.
  • “That perches in the soul” – Line 2 : Here, hope is described as residing within the human spirit, a constant companion.
  • “And sings the tune without the words” – Line 3 : This metaphor indicates that hope is an indescribable, wordless comfort.

3. “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes’ powerful poem uses metaphor to describe a mother’s life and her advice to her son. It’s popular in educational settings for its cultural and emotional depth. This poem demonstrate the effectiveness of metaphors in storytelling. They are perfect examples of Popular Metaphor Examples and Metaphor Examples from Movies , where vivid imagery and creative narratives capture the audience’s imagination.

  • “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” – Opening Line : This metaphor compares life to a difficult staircase, indicating hardship and obstacles.
  • “It’s had tacks in it” – Line 3 : Here, life’s challenges are likened to tacks, symbolizing painful experiences.
  • “And splinters” – Line 4 : This metaphor suggests life’s minor irritations, akin to splinters, are part of the journey.

Short Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade

1. “fog” by carl sandburg.

‘Fog’ by Carl Sandburg is a brief yet impactful poem. It uses metaphor to describe the fog’s arrival and departure, often used in classrooms for its clear imagery and simplicity.

  • “The fog comes on little cat feet” – Opening Line : This metaphor compares the fog’s arrival to the quiet, gentle approach of a cat.
  • “It sits looking over harbor and city” – Line 3 : Here, the fog is personified, suggesting it observes the city like a sentient being.
  • “Then moves on” – Final Line : This metaphor implies the fog’s departure is as subtle and graceful as its arrival.

2. “A Noiseless Patient Spider” by Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman’s poem masterfully uses metaphor to compare a spider’s web-spinning to the human soul’s quest for connection. It’s a great example for young students to understand metaphor in poetry.

  • “A noiseless patient spider” – Opening Line : The spider is a metaphor for the human soul, patient and searching.
  • “It launched forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself” – Line 2 : This metaphor suggests the soul’s efforts to connect with the world.
  • “Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them” – Line 5 : This represents the continuous effort of the human spirit to find meaning.

3. “The Pasture” by Robert Frost

Robert Frost’s ‘The Pasture’ is a short poem that uses simple metaphors to depict rural life. It’s often used in classrooms for its gentle imagery and relatable metaphors. Moreover, these poem serve as great Metaphor Examples for Writers , inspiring them to use Implied Metaphor Examples and Mixed Metaphor Examples in their writing.

  • “I’m going out to clean the pasture spring” – Opening Line : This metaphor suggests rejuvenation and care, akin to tending to one’s own life.
  • “I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away” – Line 3 : Here, raking leaves is a metaphor for clearing obstacles or difficulties.
  • “And wait to watch the water clear, I may” – Line 4 : This metaphor implies patience and the value of observing change.

Printable Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade

1. “daffodils” by william wordsworth.

Wordsworth’s ‘Daffodils’ is famed for its vibrant metaphors that capture the beauty of nature. It’s a popular choice in classrooms for its vivid imagery and joyful tone. Such poems are essential in Metaphor Examples for Schools and Metaphor Examples for Teaching , as they provide relatable content that resonates with children.

  • “A host, of golden daffodils” – Line 4 : The daffodils are metaphorically described as a lively, welcoming crowd.
  • “Fluttering and dancing in the breeze” – Line 6 : This metaphor compares the daffodils’ movement to a joyful dance.
  • “They stretched in never-ending line” – Line 11 : Here, the daffodils represent infinite beauty and nature’s expanse.

2. “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost

Robert Frost’s ‘Fire and Ice’ is a powerful poem that uses metaphor to explore the themes of desire and hatred. It’s a popular teaching tool for its clear metaphors and deep meaning.

  • “Some say the world will end in fire” – Opening Line : Fire is a metaphor for consuming passion and desire.
  • “Some say in ice” – Line 2 : Ice metaphorically represents hatred and rigidity.
  • “From what I’ve tasted of desire” – Line 4 : This metaphor uses personal experience to discuss the dangers of unchecked passion.

3. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost

This beloved poem by Robert Frost is rich in metaphor, depicting a journey through life. It’s widely used in education for its serene imagery and profound implications. young learners can grasp the essence of Metaphor Poems for 4th grade and Metaphor Poems for 3rd grade , making them a vital component of any language arts curriculum.

  • “Whose woods these are I think I know” – Opening Line : The woods metaphorically represent the unknown or unexplored paths in life.
  • “He will not see me stopping here” – Line 3 : This line suggests the independence of one’s journey in life.
  • “And miles to go before I sleep” – Penultimate Line : This metaphor indicates life’s responsibilities and goals before the final rest, or death.

Funny Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade

1. “the classroom zoo”.

“The Classroom Zoo” is a whimsical poem that humorously depicts a classroom as a lively zoo. Originating from a creative interpretation of everyday school life, it’s used widely to teach metaphorical expressions in a fun and engaging way. For instance, “The Classroom Zoo” uses vibrant Metaphor Sentence Examples to transform a regular classroom setting into a lively, chaotic zoo. This approach makes learning about Simile and Metaphor Examples both fun and educational.

  • “ Desks like wild elephants” – Throughout the poem: This metaphor humorously compares the messy, bulky desks to untamed elephants, symbolizing the disorderly yet lively nature of the classroom.
  • “Teacher’s voice like a lion’s roar” – Mid poem: Here, the teacher’s authoritative voice is likened to a lion’s roar, illustrating control and power amidst classroom chaos.
  • “Laughter like monkey chatter” – Near the end: This metaphor compares the students’ laughter to the sounds of monkeys, highlighting the joyous and playful atmosphere in the classroom.

2. “The Homework Monster”

“The Homework Monster” turns the daunting task of homework into an amusing adventure. This poem originated as a light-hearted take on the challenges of school assignments. It’s popular for explaining metaphors in a way that resonates with 5th graders, portraying homework as a quirky, sometimes overwhelming monster. “The Homework Monster” tackles the common theme of school assignments with humor and creativity, illustrating how Metaphor Examples in Daily Life can make even the mundane exciting.

  • “Homework is a ravenous beast” – Beginning: This metaphor portrays homework as a hungry monster, capturing the overwhelming feeling students often associate with assignments.
  • “Questions like tricky traps” – Middle of the poem: Here, homework questions are likened to traps, emphasizing the complexity and challenges they pose to students.
  • “Pencil like a sword” – Towards the end: The pencil is compared to a sword, symbolizing the student’s battle and resilience against the ‘homework monster’.

3. “My Stomach’s a Melting Pot”

“My Stomach’s a Melting Pot” is a comical poem that compares a hungry stomach to a melting pot of various foods. Originating from a playful observation of hunger and cravings, this poem is a hit among 5th graders for its relatable content and humorous metaphors. “My Stomach’s a Melting Pot” offer a humorous take on everyday experiences. Using Easy Metaphor Examples and Family Metaphor Examples , this poem connects with young minds, making it an excellent example of Metaphor Examples for Kids .

  • “Hunger like a growling bear” – Early in the poem: This metaphor compares the feeling of hunger to the growl of a bear, indicating its intensity and urgency.
  • “Thoughts of pizza swirling like a tornado” – Midway: Here, the craving for pizza is likened to a swirling tornado, emphasizing the overwhelming and consuming nature of the craving.
  • “Belly a ticking time bomb” – Later in the poem: This metaphor suggests the impending need to eat, likening the stomach to a bomb about to go off, highlighting the urgency of hunger.

Metaphor poems are a fantastic way for 5th graders to explore the richness of language and express themselves creatively. From teaching about Heart Metaphor to exploring Metaphor Examples in Semantics , these poems are a crucial part of language arts education, fostering creativity, imagination, and a deeper understanding of language. From the chaotic charm of “The Classroom Zoo” to the amusing battles with “The Homework Monster” and the relatable cravings in “My Stomach’s a Melting Pot,” these poems provide a delightful and insightful journey into the world of metaphors.  Examples of Metaphor Poems for Children and Classroom Metaphor Poems  offer great examples that can be incorporated into any 5th-grade language arts curriculum. This approach to learning not only stimulates the imagination but also builds a strong foundation in literary comprehension and creative writing.

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Interesting Literature

10 of the Best Examples of Metaphors in Poems

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

A simile is a literary device whereby you liken one thing to another, using the word like or as . Sometimes we use similes in everyday language: describing someone as being as sick as a parrot , for instance.

But sometimes a poet finds a simile too weak for their purposes. After all, by likening one thing to another thing using the actual term like (or as ), you’re also acknowledging that the two things are separate and different – otherwise you wouldn’t need to draw them together via the simile.

A metaphor is more direct and does without such weak terms as like or as . Instead of saying someone’s heart is as hard and cold as a stone , you could simply say they have a heart of stone . You can immediately see the difference: a metaphor acts as though the two things are literally the same for literary or rhetorical effect.

1. William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18 .

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date …

Strictly, this poem gives us an extended metaphor, rather than a simile, because Shakespeare doesn’t use the word ‘like’ or ‘as’. He does, however, begin with a rhetorical flourish which shows he is comparing two things.

In this poem, the most famous of all the Sonnets written by Shakespeare (probably in the early to mid-1590s), the poet likens the addressee of the poem – a young man – to a summer’s day.

Although he begins by signalling that he is making a comparison , by the end of the poem, he has collapsed any distinction between the Fair Youth and the beauty of summer: ‘But thy eternal summer shall not fade …’

2. John Donne, ‘ The Sun Rising ’.

Thine age asks ease, and since thy duties be To warm the world, that’s done in warming us. Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere; This bed thy centre is, these walls, thy sphere.

John Donne (1572-1631) pioneered a new kind of poetry, which would later be branded ‘metaphysical poetry’. Metaphysical poets like Donne didn’t just use metaphors: they took them and stretched them almost to breaking point, developing them over whole stanzas, or even whole poems.

The extended metaphor with which Donne closes ‘The Sun Rising’ – he and his beloved are the whole world because nothing else matters to them as long as they’re in love, so the sun cannot be partnered with the world because Donne and his lover are the world – is unfolded deftly and to great effect. Who hasn’t felt like that when in love?

3. William Blake, ‘ The Sick Rose ’.

O Rose thou art sick. The invisible worm, That flies in the night In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy: And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy.

This short lyric was published in William Blake’s Songs of Experience in 1794. The poem remains a baffling one, with Blake’s precise meaning difficult to ascertain.

How we interpret the meaning of ‘The Sick Rose’ depends largely on how we choose to analyse the poem’s two central metaphors: the rose and the worm. It is possible to see the worm as a symbol of death, given that worms are associated with decay and are commonly said to feed upon the dead (we are ‘food for worms’ in our graves). Roses, meanwhile, often symbolise love, beauty, and the passions.

But the beauty of Blake’s metaphors is that they invite numerous meanings, as we explore in our analysis of the poem (available above via the link to the poem itself).

4. Emily Dickinson, ‘Fame is a Bee’.

Fame is a bee. It has a song— It has a sting— Ah, too, it has a wing.

This brief four-line poem from Dickinson, whose work is filled with arresting metaphors, begins with a simple enough statement. But how is fame ‘a bee’?

The succeeding three lines develop this idea: like a bee, fame has a beautiful song, it can be a transformative and magical experience; but it carries a sting, too, because the famous can so easily find themselves shunned by their former fans; and it can transport us to other places, making ordinary people extraordinary.

5. Christina Rossetti, ‘ Shut Out ’.

The door was shut. I looked between Its iron bars; and saw it lie, My garden, mine, beneath the sky, Pied with all flowers bedewed and green …

This poem’s central image – a garden from which the speaker has been ‘shut out’ – functions as a metaphor for those things which we have lost: things which attain a status which far exceeds their actual value, by virtue of being lost. We want the things we cannot have, and – equally – we long to regain the things which have been taken from us

6. Gerard Manley Hopkins, ‘ The Windhover ’.

I caught this morning morning’s minion, king- dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding High there …

In this joyous sonnet from one of Victorian poetry’s greatest innovators, the Jesuit priest and poet Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-89) offers us numerous metaphors for the windhover (that is, the kestrel) in flight: the ‘minion’ of morning, the ‘dauphin’ or prince of the kingdom of daylight, a horseman or chevalier, and even, ultimately, Jesus Christ.

7. H. D., ‘ Oread ’.

The imagists, a short-lived Anglo-American movement which flourished in London around the time of the First World War, loved metaphors, because they believed in directness of expression and put the image at the heart of their poetry.

In this brief poem, H. D. takes metaphor a stage further , by bringing two things together – the trees and the ocean – so completely that they effectively change places. Is the oread (mountain nymph) calling for the ‘sea’ of pine trees to ‘wash’ over her rocks, or is she calling for the pine-coloured (literal) sea to splash over the mountains?

This poem enacts something which H. D.’s fellow imagist Ezra Pound called superposition , where one image is laid over another.

8. Ted Hughes, ‘ The Thought-Fox ’.

This is one of the most famous poems by Ted Hughes (1930-98). It is also one of the most famous poetic accounts of the act of writing poetry, or rather, more accurately, trying to write poetry and the arrival of inspiration.

Hughes uses the fox as a metaphor for the arrival of such poetic inspiration: the creature appears inside the poet’s imagination with its ‘sudden sharp hot stink’, and its pawprints across the snow enable the poem’s words to be ‘printed’ across the page.

9. Sylvia Plath, ‘ Metaphors ’.

Given the focus of this post is examples of metaphors in poetry, the inclusion of a poem called ‘Metaphors’ seems appropriate enough. Plath (1932-63) often wrote about motherhood, and ‘Metaphors’ is an almost meta-poetic exploration of pregnancy and the poet’s quest to capture this experience through metaphor, that stock-in-trade of poetic language.

Some of the metaphors are more logical and easily suggested than others, such as the loaf of bread rising like an expectant mother’s belly. Others, like the coin-purse filled with new-minted money, are perhaps more surprising.

10. Audre Lorde, ‘ Coal ’.

‘Coal’ is a 1968 poem by the African-American poet Audre Lorde (1934-92). Lorde was a self-described ‘Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.’

In this cleverly constructed poem, coal is a metaphor for blackness (or Blackness: Lorde moves from the lower-case ‘black’ of the coal to the capitalised identity, ‘I am Black’, between the beginning and end of the poem). But carbon, which makes coal, also creates diamond if enough pressure is applied.

From this central metaphor, Lorde develops other images : the metaphor of diamond on window panes summons the power of writing, for instance (‘cutting’ words, at that: diamond is hard enough to score the surface of glass). A poem that is almost metaphysical in its use of metaphor, linked to the Civil Rights movement.

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homework metaphor poem

Homework Stew

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From the book When the Teacher Isn't Looking

Homework Stew by Kenn Nesbitt

I turned the flame up nice and hot and tossed my binder in the pot. I sprinkled in my book report with colored markers by the quart.

Despite its putrid , noxious gas, I proudly took my stew to class. And though the smell was so grotesque , I set it on my teacher’s desk.

My teacher said, “You’re quite a chef. But, still, you’re going to get an F. I didn’t ask for ‘homework stew,’ I said, ‘Tomorrow, homework’s due.'”

 — Kenn Nesbitt

Copyright © 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Reading Level: Grade 5

Topics: Food Poems , School Poems

Poetic Techniques: Imagery , Narrative Poems

homework metaphor poem

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IMAGES

  1. 55 Lovely Metaphor Poems for Kids

    homework metaphor poem

  2. I Love Doing My Homework Poem ― Homework, I Love You

    homework metaphor poem

  3. 55 Lovely Metaphor Poems for Kids

    homework metaphor poem

  4. 55 Lovely Metaphor Poems for Kids

    homework metaphor poem

  5. 55 Lovely Metaphor Poems for Kids

    homework metaphor poem

  6. PPT

    homework metaphor poem

VIDEO

  1. Lesson 21

  2. Homework, I Love You

  3. RPSC 2nd Grade

  4. Std 4#CBSE#English#Poem#Homework#@Kalpanaeducator8250#

  5. Homework I love you poem 02

  6. I Need to Do My Homework by Kenn Nesbitt #poem #poetry #kidspoem #homework

COMMENTS

  1. Homework Summary

    Summary and Analysis. "Homework," by the American poet Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), was written on April 26, 1980 in Boulder, Colorado (as a note following the text of the poem reveals). The ...

  2. Homework by Allen Ginsberg

    Poem Analyzed by Sudip Das Gupta. First-class B.A. Honors Degree in English Literature. 'Homework' by Allen Ginsberg is a poem depicting the environmental degradation in the modern world. The metaphorical reference to "Laundry" is significant. It reflects how dirty the world looks like from the eyes of an aware citizen of the world.

  3. Homework! Oh, Homework! Analysis

    The poem shows the use of the symbols of "stink" and "giving me fits" as signs of anger and hatred. Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Homework! Oh, Homework! Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem. Diction: The poem shows ...

  4. » Summary and Analysis of Homework by Allen Ginsberg: 2022

    The Poem: The poem "Homework" by Allen Ginsberg is a metaphorical poem speaking about the socio-political background, the economy, the corruption and various issues that surrounded the nations in that period. This poem reflects much upon the poet's thought and his continuous anti - violent movements. Through his words and the strength of his writing, this poem distinctly reflects on ...

  5. 25 Metaphors for Homework

    Metaphors for Homework 1. A Set of Instructions or Steps. Meaning: Homework can be likened to a set of instructions or steps, similar to following a recipe. In a Sentence: Just as a chef follows a recipe to create a culinary masterpiece, students follow the instructions in their homework to master a subject. 2. A Road to Travel. Meaning: Homework can be seen as a journey or path towards ...

  6. Metaphor Poems: Lesson for Kids

    The metaphors in the poem are: Homework is a bee sting on your tongue. Homework is dropping your ice cream cone on the sidewalk. Homework is a deflated balloon.

  7. Metaphor Homework Poems

    These Metaphor Homework poems are examples of Homework poems about Metaphor. These are the best examples of Homework Metaphor poems written by international poets. There For Me

  8. Extended Metaphor in Literature

    An extended metaphor is a metaphor that extends through several lines or even an entire poem. An author may use an extended metaphor to create stronger examples and to help an audience visualize ...

  9. Metaphor

    A metaphor is used to describe an object, person, situation, or action in a way that helps a reader understand it, without using "like" or "as". E.g. E.g. "Her eyes were suns smiling down at me when I woke up" contains a metaphor of the 'eyes' metaphorized as 'suns.'. The comparison is usually not literal and the two things might be ...

  10. Metaphor Examples in Poetry with Analysis

    One More Example. Poem: "Alley Rats" by Carl Sandburg Metaphor: The title is a metaphor comparing gangsters to alley rats. Metaphor: And another manner of beard assumed in their chatter a verbal guise / Of "mutton chops," "galways," "feather dusters.". Analysis: Sandburg lists different names for beards worn by gangsters.

  11. How can I identify a metaphor in a poem?

    Here are the four variations of metaphor: 1. Both the terms, literal and figurative are named. [this is one already mentioned: "Juliet is the sun."] 2. The literal term is named, but the ...

  12. Metaphor Poems

    Metaphor Poem #1. The wisdom of my tooth. And that's the honest truth! In the first poem, the first three lines all have metaphors. We've all heard the expression, "you're the apple of my eye." (It is common enough to be a cliche.) Of course, no one has an apple in their eye unless they had an eating incident.

  13. 34 Metaphor Poems

    Yes it touches to my heart. As we are the parents who do this for our children to make them strongest on earth. 10. Endure Like A Tree. By Alicia Quetzalcoatl. Published by Family Friend Poems May 2015 with permission of the Author.

  14. Metaphor Poems for 5th Grade

    "Homework is a ravenous beast" - Beginning: This metaphor portrays homework as a hungry monster, capturing the overwhelming feeling students often associate with assignments. "Questions like tricky traps" - Middle of the poem: Here, homework questions are likened to traps, emphasizing the complexity and challenges they pose to students.

  15. 10 of the Best Examples of Metaphors in Poems

    Roses, meanwhile, often symbolise love, beauty, and the passions. But the beauty of Blake's metaphors is that they invite numerous meanings, as we explore in our analysis of the poem (available above via the link to the poem itself). 4. Emily Dickinson, 'Fame is a Bee'. Fame is a bee. It has a song—. It has a sting—.

  16. What is a metaphor in poetry and how does Langston Hughes utilize it

    A metaphor in a poem, the same as in other types of writing, is a form of figurative language in which something is described as if it is something else--not compared to something else using words ...

  17. Homework Stew

    Despite its putrid, noxious gas, I proudly took my stew to class. And though the smell was so grotesque, I set it on my teacher's desk. My teacher said, "You're quite a chef. But, still, you're going to get an F. I didn't ask for 'homework stew,'. I said, 'Tomorrow, homework's due.'". — Kenn Nesbitt.

  18. Homework Metaphor Poem

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  20. What are some metaphors in Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"?

    There are almost countless examples of metaphor in Walt Whitman's long poem, "Song of Myself."Indeed, even if you were to narrow your options down to a single image - the central leaf of grass ...

  21. Homework Metaphor Poem

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  22. What is the metaphor in Gary Soto's poem "Oranges"?

    Gary Soto employs a metaphor toward the end of the poem when he compares the boy's orange to a fire in his hands. Soto writes, "I peeled my orange / That was so bright [. . .] Someone might have ...

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