That’s the magic of an analogy. It transforms something unfamiliar and complex into a relatable idea by connecting it to what we already understand.
Analogies are everywhere, from our daily conversations to literary masterpieces and films, subtly influencing our perceptions about the world around us.
Let’s explore the fascinating world of analogies and discover how authors and filmmakers cleverly employ this tool to ignite our creativity and evoke our feelings. Once you begin to recognize them, you will be surprised at how many analogies pop up in unexpected ways.
What is an Analogy?
An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically based on their similarities, in order to explain or clarify a concept, situation, or relationship. It involves drawing a parallel between a familiar concept and an unfamiliar one to aid understanding.
Analogies are super handy in breaking down complex ideas across various subjects, such as history and science, as well as in our everyday conversations.
For example, in a history class, you might correlate the rise and fall of the Roman Empire with the life cycle of a big old tree—it thrives for ages and then starts to wither from the inside.
In filmmaking, you could compare the camera to a human eye, despite one being a machine and the other a living organism. When it comes to writing, analogies possess a more intricate and nuanced significance than other literary devices.
We will briefly explore what we can achieve by using an analogy, as well as explore its literary and cinematic significance. Before that, let’s tackle a rookie mistake most of us make. And that is erroneously distinguishing (or not distinguishing at all) between the analogy and two other literary devices that are quite similar, simile and metaphor.
Simile vs. Metaphor vs. Analogy
These three literary devices are all used to draw comparisons, but they differ in terms of their functions and depth.
Simile:
A simile directly compares two unrelated things, using the words “like” or “as.”
Example: “Knowledge is like a key that opens a door to success.”
Metaphor:
A metaphor states that one thing is another to create a symbolic meaning.
Example: “Knowledge is the key to success.”
Analogy:
An analogy explains how two unrelated things are similar in function or concept.
Example: “Just as a key unlocks a door, knowledge unlocks success.”
These examples highlight the difference between these three literary devices. While the simile gives us a simple comparison between knowledge and key by using the word “like,” the metaphor cuts right to the chase by saying knowledge is the key.
Now, the analogy, the most advanced and nuanced literary tool, highlights the value of knowledge by comparing it to a key that opens doors.
So while all three play roles in illustrating ideas, the analogy digs a little deeper, whereas similes and metaphors keep things short and sweet.
'Up'Credit: Disney
What Can We Achieve by Using Analogies?
Analogies are powerful instruments that help us understand, clarify, and link concepts in a variety of circumstances.
They reduce complex ideas and make them more approachable by drawing comparisons between new ideas and previous experiences. We can think of several important benefits of using analogies in problem-solving, teaching, learning, and our daily communication.
1. Clarify complex ideas:
Analogies make difficult concepts accessible through familiar comparisons.
Example: “Just as a river system carries water through a landscape, a film's narrative structure carries the story through time.”
2. Enhance understanding through logical reasoning:
Unlike simple comparisons, such as similes and metaphors, an analogy attempts to explain why two things are similar in function and structure.
Example: “The relationship between a film director and their crew mirrors that of a lighthouse and sailors at sea, providing creative guidance.”
3. Make abstract ideas more relatable:
Analogies transform intangible concepts into concrete mental images.
Example: “Memory is a photo album. Some images remain vivid while others fade over time.”
4. Engage the audience and improve retention:
Analogies create memorable connections between ideas that are easy to remember.
Example: “You write a screenplay as you build a house. You need a structural foundation before you can add decoration.”
5. Create extended comparisons for deeper insight:
Unlike similes and metaphors, analogies explore multiple parallels and similarities between two concepts.
Example: “The way film directors shape productions mirrors how conductors interpret symphonies. Conductors coordinate musicians to create music, while directors synchronize actors, cinematographers, and designers to produce narratives.”
6. Bridge the gaps between different fields:
Analogies help transfer knowledge across various domains, making interdisciplinary learning easier.
Example: “Film editing functions in a cinematic language the way punctuation structures writing. Cuts are periods, dissolves act as commas, cross-cutting functions as conjunctions, and montages compress time like summaries.”
Let’s now explore various instances of analogies used across classic literature and movies.
Analogy in Literature and Movies: Examples
Literature
1. Animal Farm (1945) by George Orwell
The entire novel can be considered an out-and-out comprehensive analogy, which employs farm animals to depict the circumstances surrounding the Russian Revolution and the formative years of the Soviet Union.
The pigs, who assume a dominant role over all other animals, signify the emergence of dictatorial leadership of the likes of Stalin. In contrast, the other animals signify various social classes and factions in the society. This parallel simplifies complex political ideas, making them both understandable and thought-provoking.
2. “The Allegory of the Cave,” from Republic (375 BC) by Plato
In “The Allegory of the Cave,” Plato uses the cave analogy to explain knowledge and reality. In his story, people who are chained inside a cave can see only shadows on the wall and take them to be real. The cave is a metaphor for our limited understanding of the world, while “escaping the cave” symbolizes gaining true knowledge.
Even today, philosophical debates concerning perception and truth are still influenced by this analogy.
Movies
1. The Matrix (1999)
This movie proves the last statement in the previous point, since the entire idea of The Matrix is a comparison with Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave.
Waking up to the real world signifies intellectual and philosophical enlightenment, whereas the Matrix itself symbolizes the illusory world that humans experience (shadows on the cave walls). In the film, Neo’s (Keanu Reeves) path from ignorance to enlightenment is similar to that of the prisoner who escapes the cave and sees reality.
2. Up (2009)
In Up, the lead character is Carl (Ed Asner), whose house is tethered to thousands of balloons. This serves as a metaphor for his sentimental ties to his past. As the film progresses, he continues throwing away his possessions from the house, representing his emotional process of letting go of sorrow while still honoring his memories.
The actual house is a representation of his psychological state, and his willingness to finally let the house go says a lot about how he has matured emotionally.
Conclusion
Analogies help us understand new or complex ideas by relating them to what we already know. They improve our understanding in various fields, including philosophy, science, and literature, by relating abstract or hypothetical theories to our concrete experiences. From Plato’s cave allegory to modern movies, analogical parallels reveal important truths about reality and perception.
By revealing underlying links between disparate ideas, analogies simplify concepts and foster insight. They serve as useful tools for learning, exploration, and problem-solving.
And for writers, analogies transform abstract storytelling concepts into concrete images that are easier to visualize, implement, and remember during the writing process.
'Up'Credit: Disney
