Julia Lim 494029 Mr Bowering ENG 4U0 E March 8, 2012 The Misconceptions of Metaphor Mark Dotys poem entitled

d Difference is a two-part poem that illustrates how metaphor can alter the perceptions of someones views of a new encounter. This poem emphasises the point in which metaphors and similes can pull apart the unique identity of an object. This poem is a free verse poem with no rhyme and a falling, but not constant rhythm. This falling rhythm helps the poem in the sense where each line leaves you hanging with a thought, within a single waves span (Doty 12), but also that thought smoothly leads into the next line or thought in the poem, everyone does something unlike: (13). This falling rhythm aspect of the poem makes it easier for the words to roll off your tongue. In a way it is like a metaphor within a metaphor in the sense that when we see a new idea metaphors can be easily thought of like how after a shower your fingertip is wrinkled like a pea. (Continuing/contrasting) that thought, in stanza 11 What can words do but link what know to what we dont (33-35), is where the poem changes its tone. It makes the poem seem divided into two parts: its surface and than its own explanation. By doing this Doty is able to make the meaning of the poem stand out even more giving the audience a clearer understanding of the message he is portraying. In Difference Doty begins with a vivid imagery of jellyfish. Almost as if someone who has never seen a jellyfish before, was looking up at a smack of jellyfish

floating above them and they all resembled faceless creatures moving is unique ways. The person cannot really describe what he/she is seeing but it looks like many things such as, this one a breathing heart, this a pulsing flower (17-18). This part one of the poem is a compilation of metaphors and similes that relate to jellyfish to enhance the audiences understanding and explore the different image a jellyfish can turn into even with only word. At what point do metaphors turn the description of the jellyfish into solely the idea that was meant only to describe the creature. but whats lovelier than the shapeshifting transparence of like and as: (47-49) in these lines Doty is telling us that in similes the words like or as are fading and we start seeing the object we are experiencing as what it is not. It is like saying metaphors are being taken literally which result in the shapeshifting. This shapeshifting changes the way humans look at new objects indefinitely. Experience and wisdom come from new encounters and the use of metaphor is what helps us understand or make reference, What can words do but like what we know to what we dont (33-35). Subconsciously we link everything we see/hear/touch/taste/smell to something that weve already seen/heard/touched/tasted or smelt. With this knowledge we form a shape or idea from this new event and it is stored in our minds. But its from linking these words together in which we learn and understand new events better. The more variety we learn and experience and more we will be able to learn from. The title of this poem Difference can be interpreted as the difference between what you are seeing and something your mind is visualizing. Nothing but style. What

binds one shape to another also sets them apart. (43-46), the definition of style in this context is the meaning/idea that surrounds/defines one object or shape. This also emphasises uniqueness of objects even if they have many similar qualities there are differences. Take for example two identical triangles printed on a sheet of paper; one may be printed closer to the right side of the page, the other the left. The difference is the position on the page and possibly the meaning behind this positioning. All objects no matter how similar have their own unique traits and that sets these two objects apart. In summary, Mark Dotys poem makes the reader think about instances where they too have used metaphor in place of an objects own description. Hear how the mouth, so full of longing for the world, changes its shape? (57-60) We long to learn and see everything the world has to offer. When we encounter something new our minds push similes and metaphors on us subconsciously. These newly encountered objects then transform into something familiar from the past, or maybe even many different things all at once. In a way it does loose the sense of individuality but this object will then go to be one thats familiar. And maybe this object will be used to recognize an even newer shape to help us learn, experience and comprehend our world even more.