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material figure

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 figurative expression rooted in physical substance or sensory experience

Detailed Definition
A material figure is a metaphor or simile that compares abstract concepts to physical objects or bodily experiences, rendering the intangible concrete; for example, describing hope as “a splintered oar” ties an emotional state to a tangible, weathered artifact, enhancing sensory and emotional resonance.
Example
Example in poetry:
In “The Flea,” Donne’s flea is a material figure for union; In “The Red Wheelbarrow,” the wheelbarrow is a material figure for dependence; In “O Captain! My Captain!”, the ship is a material figure for the nation; In “The Fish,” Bishop’s fish becomes a material figure for resilience.
Additional Notes
Figurative language grounded in physical or material comparisons—texture, weight, substance—rather than abstract or spiritual ones. Related to the tangible vocabulary and material likeness. Contrasts with abstract or spiritual metaphor. Learners should collect material figures from a single poem and ask whether the choice of physical domain (earth, metal, fabric) carries consistent symbolic meaning.
Also Known As
Concrete figure Tangible trope Material symbol Concrete metaphor
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