The subtitle of Chapter VII, “The Archetype of Image,” is “Metaphor and Its Superpowers.” As a poet, I feel at home in the world of metaphor, but Selig enlarges the concept by bringing in depth psychology, a discussion of the shared patterns we have in our brains. In this chapter, she describes archetypes as “empty forms, ideas, or templates that we fill with content,” as if archetypes were the coloring books we fill in, with images as our crayons.
Selig continues, “Let’s scrap the ‘show, don’t tell’ adage into something that mimics what our brains naturally do—tell through showing. Tell through image. And in this case, tell through metaphor, a particular but wildly universal type of image-making.”
For those interested in neuroscience, Selig takes a deep dive into how metaphors work in and on the brain and suggests further reading. Probably of most use to the current memoir writer, she discusses sources for metaphors “that are most universally shared and understood, and thus most resonant.”
She splits those metaphor sources into domains. Three primary domains: somatic (the body and the five senses), nature, and animals, Other shared human domains include music, food, and home. Or shared common experiences: coming of age, aging, culture, relationships, and work. The chapter ends with a list of craft tips for metaphors in memoir. This part of the chapter was surprising and useful. I use metaphors intuitively, instinctively. I hadn’t considered being methodical. But asking these craft tip questions can broaden the choices of metaphor.
· What is It Like (this thing I am trying to describe)?
· Which archetypal domain might work better (body, nature, animals, etc.)
· How does each of the five senses relate to what I’m trying to describe?
· Can I personify this nonhuman or abstract thing?
As I revised, I discovered a motif of colors, especially the color red, sometimes a warning, sometimes a marker of being on the right path: red stripes in a mentor’s tie, a red jeep, red-winged blackbirds. After reading this chapter, I see that I can be more intentional about how these particular images are universal, bringing meaning to my readers, even if they haven’t shared my experiences.
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Thanks for reading,
Deborah
SO insightful! I'd never thought of the variety of metaphors, nor the intentionality of their use. Thank you!
Oh, this is useful, Deborah. I have this book on my list of ones to dig into when I get some time, but the questions here are a good start. Thank you!