Metaphors for WWII
The beginning of the novel is a metaphor for how London appeared at the beginning of WWII. The comparison indicated WWII for a few reasons. There was a preceding war, the peace time between wasn’t actually peaceful, racial dives deepened, and the [re]emergence of the villain. A more specific example is the news paper, The Daily Prophet, publishing guides/leaflets for personal/family safety. Many papers published or distributed leaflets on safety and the war effort. This metaphor impresses the seriousness of the situation by equating the war the wizarding world is facing to WWII.
Lion Simile
“The Prime Minister's first, foolish thought was the Rufus Scrimgeour looked rather like an old lion.” -p16
This simile compares the Minister of Magic’s physical appearance to a lion’s. Rufus Scrimgeour is described as having a mane of hair, bushy eye brows and yellowish eyes. As a whole this gives the Prime Minister a strong resemblance to a lion. The Prime Minister notes additional characteristics, such as his walk and stature, that make the new Minister appear much stronger and more formidable than his predecessor.
Relationship Simile
“The little flock of golden birds continued to twitter in circles around her head so that she looked like a strange feathery model of the solar system.” -p302
Lavender and Ron had just walked into a classroom they thought was empty, where they found Hermione and Harry. She had conjured the birds and they flew around her altering her appearance. Hermione had left the common room because of Ron and Lavender’s public display of affection. Lavender quickly left. Ron stared at Hermione, knowing he had hurt her feelings. Ron knew Hermione liked him and continued to flaunt his relationship with Lavender. This intrusion ended with Hermione leaving upset and setting the birds on Ron.
Metaphor for Trips/Adventures
Dumbledore states to Harry, before leaving Private Drive, “And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress adventure.” - p56
The adventure is the metaphor Professor Dumbledore is speaking to about. They are not going on what most people would consider an adventure. Instead, they are heading to the temporary residence of Professor Dumbledore's old college Horace Slughorn. They are not going on an adventure, as much as a meet-and-greet.
Metaphor for Sucide Missions
The Unbreakable Vow is a metaphor for a suicide mission, in this case. As Ron explained to Harry it a promise that, once made, must be fulfilled. The person that breaks the Unbreakable Vow, dies. This definition opens it up for two possibilities: suicide pact or suicide mission. The later in intended in this case. When Severus Snape makes the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy he agrees to complete Draco’s mission if he is not able to, when Snape agrees he understands that if he fails, he will die.
Animal similes and metaphors
We can find a number of animal similes and metaphors in the book. They are used by Rowling to emphasize the certain qualities of the characters and make them more expressive. Cornelius Fudge, who informs the Prime Minister, that Lord Voldemort has returned, is compared with a frog: "It was coming — as the Prime Minister had known at the first cough — from the froglike little man wearing a long silver wig who was depicted in a small, dirty oil painting..." (p. 3) Comparison with a lion gives the image of masculinity and stateliness "... a man with a lionlike mane of thick hair and a rather ravaged face" (p. 40). To underline Malfoy's helplessness, the author compares him to an overturned turtle, which cannot stand on its feet without help: "Harry had never hated Malfoy more than as he lay there, like an absurd turtle on its back..." (p. 155). Ginny compares Harry and Ron to "a pair of eels" thrashing around all over the place (p. 536).
