Family House
“The family house” March 15, 2011
“The family House” by Felix Leclerc uses the extended metaphor referring the house as a ship. This short story has many supporting examples implied throughout the whole story which contribute to the extended metaphor unveiled. Here are several of the many examples unveiling why the house is an extended metaphor.
The first example was presented in the beginning of the story. The author tries to use imagery as a device to show the house being referred to a ship. “Long three-story wooden house…humped and crusty as a loaf of homemade bread”. Is an example of imagery, where we somewhat contemplate as to what is being described. A ship is usually long and wooden and has the grooves on the sides. “Beautifully adjusted to nature…have mistaken it for an enormous boulder stranded on the beach”. Shows that a ship would be adjusted to the nature as it is in the water, and has scenic views. Also one would think that an enormous boulder in the middle of a beach from far away would be recognized as a ship.
Now this “house” is really being portrayed as a ship to us. Another example that supports the above examples is, “It was a stubborn old thing, soaking up storms and twilight, determined not to die of anything less than old age”. Firstly, we wouldn’t call our own “house” a thing which generally is an object. It was the ship that was being described here. It also comes to mind that this ship doesn’t seem to run and just sits there idle. Coming from the quote “determined not to die of anything less than old age”. Only way a ship would die of old age is it not moving or running, seems as if it is just anchored into the ground and only serves a purpose for living.
Near the end of the story, “It was a veritable observation post dominating the waves…like those of the sea”. Gives an
“The family House” by Felix Leclerc uses the extended metaphor referring the house as a ship. This short story has many supporting examples implied throughout the whole story which contribute to the extended metaphor unveiled. Here are several of the many examples unveiling why the house is an extended metaphor.
The first example was presented in the beginning of the story. The author tries to use imagery as a device to show the house being referred to a ship. “Long three-story wooden house…humped and crusty as a loaf of homemade bread”. Is an example of imagery, where we somewhat contemplate as to what is being described. A ship is usually long and wooden and has the grooves on the sides. “Beautifully adjusted to nature…have mistaken it for an enormous boulder stranded on the beach”. Shows that a ship would be adjusted to the nature as it is in the water, and has scenic views. Also one would think that an enormous boulder in the middle of a beach from far away would be recognized as a ship.
Now this “house” is really being portrayed as a ship to us. Another example that supports the above examples is, “It was a stubborn old thing, soaking up storms and twilight, determined not to die of anything less than old age”. Firstly, we wouldn’t call our own “house” a thing which generally is an object. It was the ship that was being described here. It also comes to mind that this ship doesn’t seem to run and just sits there idle. Coming from the quote “determined not to die of anything less than old age”. Only way a ship would die of old age is it not moving or running, seems as if it is just anchored into the ground and only serves a purpose for living.
Near the end of the story, “It was a veritable observation post dominating the waves…like those of the sea”. Gives an