Metaphors

[Jason7377]

If one was to say "look upon us with your eyes of mercy", what would that constitute, a metaphor or personification?

I would have to say that it is a metaphor. I'm thinking that it could possibly be both. Is it possible to give human qualities to an eye, which is already part of the human body? Thanks.

 

[Tdol]

I don't see it as a personification- eyes can reflect many different emotions, so I don't see that this embodies mercy.

 

[BobK]

Besides, personification is a kind of metaphor - when my old physics master said 'the molecules really like that - it sets them up a treat' he was speaking metaphorically by personifying the molecules.

b

 

[Jason7377]

Thanks. What literary device would you describe it as? Also, another metaphor question I have is if one was to say: She spoke with happiness. What would that be? Thanks, I'm having some trouble telling the differences.

 

[BobK]

It's either metonymy or synecdoche or both - I'm never sure! You try to work it out - start here: Synecdoche - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'She spoke with happiness' isn't (usually) metaphorical at all - if it means 'She spoke happily'. It would be metaphorical if she was having a conversation with the abstract noun.

b