Conceit
Definition
A conceit is a highly elaborate and extended metaphor that compares two very dissimilar things. It often involves surprising or unconventional comparisons.
Analogy
Imagine comparing love to a roller coaster ride, where the ups and downs, twists and turns, mirror the emotional journey of a relationship.
Related terms
Metaphor: A figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated things without using "like" or "as."
Simile: A figure of speech that compares two unrelated things using "like" or "as."
Extended metaphor: A metaphor that is developed over several lines or throughout an entire poem.
"Conceit" appears in:
Additional resources (2)
Practice Questions (3)
- What is a conceit in poetry?
- What does the conceit in John Donne's "The Sun Rising" compare the world to?
- The speaker uses the conceit of comparing his love to what object in "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell?
Resources
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