What makes a metaphor different from a simile, other than the omission of the words “like” or “as?” What deeper understandings and connections do metaphors allow us to make? How can we write metaphors that enhance not only our narratives, but also the pleasure of reading our narratives? These are just some of the questions posed by metaphor that we will seek to understand in class. In this 2-hour seminar, we will read 4 poems that use striking, surprising, and interesting metaphors, and we will discuss some of the different ways that effective metaphors can be crafted. Then, we will apply what we’ve learned to our own writing. For this class, students will have the opportunity to generate new work alongside writing prompts, or they may bring in work that they would like to revise with closer attention to metaphor.