What is an Analogy?
One important type of analogy is a method of explanation or clarification involving a comparison of the difficult material to something that is more easily grasped by the explainer’s audience. The two items used in the analogy do not have to be alike in any respect other than the element that is the topic of the discussion. Because of the restricted need for similarity in an analogy, items that we would normally think of as quite disparate from the topic may serve a role in increasing understanding. In an analogy in conversation, the comparison is often made to either: • something that is present and can be manipulated—you can sometimes see people in restaurants demonstrating scenarios using their salt and pepper shakers and silverware to create the analogy; • something that is common knowledge for almost everyone—for example, a movie, song, story, or cultural experience that is shared and therefore can be used as a basis to explain an item that is not yet shared may be referenced; • a
