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Chained metaphor

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A sequence of interconnected metaphors where each links to the next, forming an extended figurative chain.

Detailed Definition
Chained metaphor extends imagery through successive links, building complex analogies from initial seeds. Metaphysical in Donne's compasses chaining cosmic to intimate, it chains in Neruda's sensual progressions. Poets use it to sustain immersion, avoiding isolated tropes. This device appears to trace idea flows, mirroring narrative arcs. Chaining metaphors weaves cohesive tapestries, deepening thematic unity and imaginative scope.
Example
Example in poetry:
Pablo Neruda chains sea metaphors to lovers in "Twenty Love Poems"; John Donne chains flea to marriage bed; Hypothetical: Chaining river to time to memory in a life poem; Sylvia Plath chains oven to Holocaust in "Daddy"; Hart Crane chains Brooklyn Bridge to American dream.
Additional Notes
Chained metaphor sustains imagery, metaphysical extended conceit; link 3+ metaphors sequentially; Donne chains cosmic to personal; usage: for narrative flow; professors trace to Homer, analyzing unity in figurative progression.
Also Known As
Extended metaphor chain Linked conceit
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