Tomlinson Metaphors

Tomlinson gives many examples of different metaphors that describe the same task of revising a paper. She backs up the amount of variety and complexity in each metaphor when she argues, “Since metaphorical expressions about composing that are common in the culture are part of such socially distributed information, it is likely that they too influence our conceptions and our behaviors as writers” (Tomlinson 59). Tomlinson argues the exact point that she is trying to get across to readers. Not only does she show how metaphors can change our actions and the way we think, but also the different metaphors that people have for the same task. Throughout this paper, Tomlinson gives an incite on the metaphors for revision in the minds of many great …show more content…
This one comes from the poet James Dickey and his view on revision is that it is refining ore. Rather than focus on the discovery of the ore Tomlinson argues,” He is concerned with attempts to transform that material into a more valuable commodity” (Tomlinson 61). Just as a paper Tomlinson points out how through work with a worthless material can change it into gold. Tomlinson points out how the act of refining ore is very labor intensive, but what you get out it is absolute gold. This metaphor represents the process of revision as more of labor-intensive and moldable process where you are more interested in the product rather than the process of getting there. James Dickey argues, “It’s just that it takes so damn much labor to get it,” he says this while explaining exactly how his metaphor describes revision in his eyes. This shows just exactly how much work Dickey feels like you need to put in to get the “gold” at the end. Tomlinson explains that this metaphor is a moldable process when she claims, “But these rough elements must then be transformed into a valuable product, a difficult, even onerous task.” (Tomlinson 62) This shows how a paper through revision can be changed into a valuable product just like how refining ore can change it into gold. This metaphor of refining ore can change the way people think about revision and will make you think not just about the process of doing your revision, but the product that you get at the end. Yet, it hides the fact that it can hold back your open thinking on revision such as make you think that the process is just labor intensive and that it can’t be delicate as well. This metaphor of refining ore can change my thinking of revision and offer up different views on revision that I had never thought of