What defines an extended metaphor in a text?

• A. It is a brief simile used once.
• B. It is a collection of unrelated images.
• C. It sustains a metaphor across multiple lines or sections; it deepens meaning and coherence of argument.
• D. It relies solely on literal language.

Answer: (C)

An extended metaphor is a single comparison that the writer keeps going across multiple lines, stanzas, or sections. By carrying that image or idea through the text, it lets the writer develop deeper meaning and thread together different parts of the argument or narrative. The metaphor isn’t just a quick simile used once; it acts as a unifying lens, illuminating connections, contrasts, and progression as the piece unfolds. This continuous thread also adds coherence, because everything else in the text is interpreted through that shared image, rather than jumping between unrelated images or sticking to literal language.