Is this a metaphor or something else?

[suwoo]

I didn't know if there was a term similar to 'personification' but for likening something to an animal? It is not 'dehumanise' as the something has no human characteristics to begin with.

The line in question relates to a troubled conscience hoarding its strength for darkness like a burrowing mole.

Thanks all.

Bump please. Help a tired woman who has been up with pesky dc3 since 4.42 am.

anthropomorphism is I think what you are looking for.

or not. google it?

I think that is the one! Thank you so much, Rohanda.

you're welcome suwoo.

This can't be anthropormorphism as that means attributing human mentality to an animal or object - and this is attributing mole-ness. I'm no expert - but would just call it a metaphor.

yes, take your point,and it led to a sleepless night last night - it could be a metaphor, or.....an 'ante-anthropomorhism'

Theriomorphism is the one you want!

Griselda- but that's relating to having animal form/characteristics iyswim and it's used usually in relation to deities/humans iirc

So not sure whether it can be used when talking about conscience.

Hmm.

Hmmm. I would say from its formation that you could use it for anything made animal/animal-like, and that if it has previously only been used for humans or deities, it needn't be limited to them.

BUT looking again at the original sentence I wonder if the fact that the animal element doesn't come until the simile means that actually the word she wants is personification after all. The personification coming from the fact that the conscience is hoarding. And anything coming after "like" being a separate issue.

What do you reckon?

< rare opportunity to don hard hat over 'pedantry'. Popcorn on stove. Straightens deck chair. Turns Sunday roast off. puts DND sign on door. Nice cup of tea. And...go.>

But these things matter !

:)

Agree with Griselda. Incidentally, I'd say it's always better to explain something fully if you're unsure, rather than reaching for a formal term that doesn't quite cover it.

I agree that in that sentence it's a simile.

I wasn't sure whether the OP was asking about the term as such or what would comparing the conscience to a burrowing mole in a sentence would be iyswim.

Just one 'would' in the sentence above, obv.

They're separate clauses. The conscience is like a burrowing mole. It is also hoarding its strength. The 'hoarding its strength' bit is metaphorical, and I'd say it accords the conscience the qualities of a living thing (not necessarily human). The 'like a burrowing mole' bit is a simile.

Two separate things in the same sentence. It's quite hard to work this out without the exact sentence, I reckon.

While we're on it, we could also do the aptness of the simile in the first place! Is it reasonable to say a mole is hoarding its strength while it is actually expending it by burrowing?

Where does the quotation come from, suwoo?

And aren't moles always in darkness?

I like your name, acinonyx!

Thank you ladies (I presume) for discussing this in my absence.

It is Keats Sonnet to Sleep which I am comparing/contrasting to Charlotte Smith's To Sleep in a close reading essay. I am doing an english Lit degree.

I am handing it in today, so if we can decide what it is I would be most grateful, otherwise it is being handed in described as anthropomorphism.

Grrr Bloody italics.

Thanks.

I warn you - it is definitely NOT anthropomorphism. It would be anthropomorphism if it talked about the mole having a conscience.