English Language Arts
Grade 12
15 min
Analogies
Analogies
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Analyze the structural and thematic function of extended analogies in canonical works of British and World literature.
Differentiate between literal and figurative analogies, evaluating their use in persuasive writing and philosophical arguments.
Construct original, sophisticated analogies to elucidate complex arguments in college-level analytical essays.
Identify and deconstruct the logical fallacy of 'false analogy' in political rhetoric and critical theory texts.
Master the identification of abstract relationships (e.g., symbiosis, negation, synthesis) in complex analogy problems.
Apply analogical reasoning to interpret allegorical narratives and extended metaphors.
How is an argument like a building? 🏛️ Both require a solid foundation, caref...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
AnalogyA comparison between two disparate things or systems of things that highlights a particular similarity, often for the purpose of explanation, clarification, or argumentation.Plato's analogy of the state as a 'Ship of State,' where the ruler is the captain and citizens are the crew, used to argue for rational governance.
Extended Analogy (or Conceit)A complex, elaborate analogy that governs a passage or an entire poem, often characterized by its ingenuity and intellectual complexity.In John Donne's 'A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,' the souls of two lovers are compared to the two legs of a drafting compass.
Analogical ArgumentAn argument that claims because two things are alike in some known respects, they are likely to be alike...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Relational Bridge (A:B :: C:D)
The relationship between A and B must be identical in nature and order to the relationship between C and D.
This is the foundational structure of all analogies. To solve for D, you must first precisely define the relationship between A and B, then find a C:D pair that perfectly mirrors that same relationship.
Categorical Relationships
Identify the precise category of the relationship before seeking a parallel.
At the Grade 12 level, relationships are often abstract. Common categories include: Negation/Absence (NIHILISM : BELIEF), Transformation (CATERPILLAR : BUTTERFLY), Symbolism (LAURELS : VICTORY), Philosophical Opposition (DETERMINISM : FREE WILL), and Part of a Process (HYPOTHESIS : EXPERIMENT).
The Rule of Relevance
In an analog...
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Challenging
A critical theory text states: 'Language is a prison-house. It provides the structure for all thought, but in doing so, it confines our consciousness, preventing us from thinking outside its established categories.' What is the most profound implication of this analogy?
A.People should stop using language to communicate.
B.The structure of language (the source) is being used to argue that the structure of thought (the target) is not free, but is fundamentally constrained by the system we use to express it.
C.Learning more languages will allow someone to escape the prison.
D.The analogy is false because a prison is a physical building and language is not.
Challenging
How does Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave' synthesize the concepts of 'extended analogy' and 'analogical argument'?
A.It functions as an extended analogy (the cave story) to make an analogical argument that our perceived reality is but a shadow of a truer, higher reality of Forms.
B.It is an extended analogy that argues against the use of analogical arguments in philosophy.
C.It is an analogical argument that proves the cave is a real place, making the extended analogy a literal description.
D.It presents two separate ideas, an extended analogy and an analogical argument, that are not connected.
Challenging
Complete the following highly specific analogy: PALIMPSEST : TEXT ::
A.FOSSIL : ROCK
B.MEMORY : MIND
C.GHOST : HOUSE
D.PENTIMENTO : PAINTING
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