A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares one thing to another without using “like” or “as.” This guide explains the definition, workings, and impact of metaphors in literature and daily life.

What’s the most persuasive way to convey a message? Many writers say, “Tell a story!” Nothing hooks like narrative. I’ve said so myself. But research shows stories have a rival for hooking power: ...

Song Lin’s poem, translated by Dong Li, primarily uses interesting images to articulate the feelings of a “divided self” and a sense of being everywhere and nowhere at once. The poet left China in the ...