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Two-headed 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 metaphor that has two simultaneous, often contradictory, directions of meaning.

Detailed Definition
A Two-headed metaphor simultaneously compares one subject to two distinct images, creating layered or contradictory associations that deepen complexity; rather than choosing one vehicle, it embraces multiplicity, as in “her voice was both a lullaby and a storm,” capturing ambivalence through fused imagery that resists singular interpretation.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The heart is a compass and a cage” — dual-natured metaphor; “Time is both thief and healer” — contradictory roles; “Her voice: lullaby and alarm” — soothing yet jarring; “The city: jungle and sanctuary” — opposing urban metaphors
Additional Notes
Two-headed metaphor|A single metaphor that uses two simultaneous or contrasting points of comparison (e.g., "The city is a concrete jungle and a shimmering glass beacon"), creating a complex, often paradoxical image.
Also Known As
Dual metaphor Double-headed metaphor Twofold figure Amphisbaena metaphor
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