How readers process metaphors

People feel good when they figure analogies out

When readers encounter a metaphor, scholars believe, they:

How readers process metaphors image — Made you think! Metaphor initially stymies readers, then rewards them for figuring out the rhetorical meaning. Image by Giant Humanitarian Robot

Process the literal meaning
Analyze whether the literal meaning makes sense
See the glitch in that meaning
Seek the metaphorical meaning when the literal meaning doesn’t make sense

Some of the power of metaphor comes from readers’ pleasure or relief at figuring out the metaphorical meaning, researchers believe.

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Source: Pradeep Sopory and James P. Dillard, “The Persuasive Effects of Metaphor: A Meta-Analysis,” Human Communication Research, July 2002

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