Etymology of Comparison
The term “comparison” originated from the Latin word comparatio, which means a comparison. It is a derivativeof the verb comparare, which means to compare. The prefix “com-” means “together,” and “parare” means “to make ready.” Thus, the word “comparison” literally means “together making ready,” which suggests the act of bringing two things together to examine them side by side.
Meanings of Comparison
Comparison literally means finding similarities and differences between two or more things, ideas, or concepts. It is often used to create vivid images in the readers’minds to help them understand complex ideas
Comparison in Grammar
Comparison is a singular noun with its plural form comparisons. When using the word ‘comparison’ as a subject of a sentence, the verb following it should be singular. For example;
- “The comparison between the two books is interesting. (Singular)
- “The comparisons between the two books are interesting.” (Plural)
Definition of Comparison
Comparison as a literary device shows similarities and differences between two or more things, ideas, or concepts. The writers use it to make their descriptions more clear and relatable to the readers by creating a connection between familiar objects and abstract ideas.
Types of Comparison
There are several types of comparisons writers use to explore similarities and differences between two or more things, ideas, or concepts. Some of the literary devices that fall under this category are as follows.
| Types of Comparison | Definitions | Examples |
| Simile | It is a comparison between two things using “like” or “as.” | “He ran like a cheetah.” |
| Metaphor | It is a direct comparison between two things, stating that one thing is something else. | “Life is a journey.” |
| Analogy | A comparison between two things is similar in some ways but different in others and is used to explain complex ideas. | “The human brain is like a computer, processing and storing information.” |
| Personification | It means assigning human qualities to non-human objects to create a more relatable and vivid image. | “The wind whispered secrets to the trees.” |
| Allegory | It means to explain an abstract idea or concept through a story, with characters and events representing real-life situations. | Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory for the Russian Revolution and Stalinism. |
Common Examples of Comparison
Comparison is not only a literary device, but it is also commonly used in everyday language and communication to express similarities and differences between two or more things. Here are some examples of common non-literary comparisons:
- Comparing prices of different products.
- Comparing the nutritional values of different types of food.
- Comparing the pros and cons of different options.
- Comparing the attributes of different jobs.
- Comparing the performance of different sports teams.
- Comparing the similarities and differences between two historical events or figures.
Putting it briefly, comparison is a ubiquitous aspect of communication and decision-making in everyday life. It helps us to make informed choices and understand the world around us better. However, in literature, it is a specific literary device as shown through examples below taken from different literary works below.
Literary Examples of Comparison
Here are a few examples of comparison as a literary device in various works of literature, along with an explanation and reference to the context:
- “She walks in beauty like the night”
– Lord Byron’s “She Walks in Beauty”
Explanation: This line from Lord Byron’s poem compares the woman’s beauty to the night. The poet uses a simile to describe how the woman’s grace and elegance resemble the serene and captivating qualities of the night. By contrasting the light and darkness, Byron emphasizes the woman’s attractiveness and creates a vivid image in the reader’s mind.
- “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”
– William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”
Explanation: In this famous metaphor from Shakespeare’s play, the world is compared to a stage and people to actors. The metaphor suggests that life is like a theatrical performance, with individuals assuming different roles and playing their parts. It implies that people are merely transient beings, performing their roles before eventually exiting the stage of life.
- “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul”
– Emily Dickinson’s “Hope is the Thing with Feathers”
Explanation: In this metaphorical comparison, Emily Dickinson likens hope to a bird with feathers that resides within the soul. By using this imagery, Dickinson conveys the delicate and ethereal nature of hope. The bird metaphor emphasizes the notion that hope brings comfort, uplifts the spirit, and is capable of soaring even in the face of adversity.
- “My love is like a red, red rose”
– Robert Burns’ “A Red, Red Rose”
Explanation: This simile from Robert Burns’ poem compares the poet’s love to a red rose. By using this comparison, Burns conveys the beauty, freshness, and intensity of his affection. The vivid imagery of a blooming rose evokes a sense of passion, fragility, and emotional depth, capturing the essence of the poet’s love for his beloved.
These examples illustrate how comparison proves effective in literature to create vivid imagery and convey complex emotions and ideas.
Suggested Readings
- Brooks, Cleanth. The Well Wrought Urn: Studies in the Structure of Poetry. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1947.
- Eliot, T.S. The Sacred Wood: Essays on Poetry and Criticism. Methuen, 1920.
- Hirsch, E.D. Jr. Valid Interpretation: Perspectives on Meaning in the Arts. Yale University Press, 1967.
- Miller, J. Hillis. On Literature. Routledge, 2002.
- Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Philosophy of Composition.” Graham’s Magazine, vol. 28, no. 4, 1846, pp. 163-167.
- Shklovsky, Viktor. “Art as Technique.” Russian Formalist Criticism: Four Essays, translated by Lee T. Lemon and Marion J. Reis, University of Nebraska Press, 1965, pp. 3-24.
- Wimsatt, W.K., and Monroe C. Beardsley. The Verbal Icon: Studies in the Meaning of Poetry. University Press of Kentucky, 2011.
- Wood, James. How Fiction Works. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008.
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