Comparisons and Analogies

What's important to know about Analogies?

As a literary device, the purpose of an analogy is not just to make a comparison, but to provide an explanation as well with additional information or context.

Analogy means a comparison of one thing with another thing for explanation, clarification, understanding, and comprehension in that the thing being compared becomes clear to the readers or audience. Although an analogy is used mostly in writing and specifically in literary pieces for understanding, it is important for developing critical thinking skills. Some of the aspects of its importance are as follows.

​An analogy is important because it is used in several thinking skills. First of all, it is used in problem-solving issues when the problem seems out of the grasp of the students or the decision-makers. They use different analogies to make it easier to understand the problem and find its solution. Secondly, it is used in argumentative writing to make arguments convincing and logical. Thirdly, it is used to create perceptions about something that the readers or audience have never seen. Fourthly, it is used to increase memory retention as it seems easier when the readers or students apply analogies to remember something. And lastly, it is used for creativity, innovation, prediction, explanation, and communication to facilitate messaging.

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For example, the analogy nose is to olfactory as ear is to auditory makes a comparison between parts of the body that are related to certain senses and the words to describe the senses themselves. “Olfactory” refers to the sense of smell, which is related to “nose.” “Auditory” refers to the sense of hearing, which is related to “ear.” Of course, the writer could use the analogy nose is to smell as ear is to hear for a similar comparison. However, the description words of olfactory and auditory create a deeper meaning and sense of the relationship between these parts of the body and the senses.

​This makes analogy a bit more complex than similar literary devices such as metaphor and simile. Analogy is an effective device in terms of providing a new or deeper meaning to concepts through the artistic use of language.

​Here are some recognizable examples of this figure of speech by well-known writers and speakers:

• Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. (Mary Schmich)

• That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet (William Shakespeare)

• People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. (Elisabeth Kubler-Ross)