Glimmer metaphor
In the middle chapter, Hoban uses the metaphor of glimmer as a literary technique to delineate human intention and character. Consequently, this character description provides an imminent precision of the character in detail. Readers can see that the metaphor not only enhances symbolism but also serves as a comparison between eyes and tears. For instance, the author writes, “We put the boars on the pool up on the gatehouse. His tusks glimmer, and you cud see a dried-up trickle from the corners of his eyes looking like one last tear from each."
The simile of the running brung
The dog likes running in various directions while wagging its tail. The narrator compares the dog’s size and speed to a running brung. Despite the confusing choice of words, the reader notices that the narrator is contrasting the dog’s broadening size to a different animal that does not resemble it. The narrator writes, "The dog gets bigger under the grey sky. It looks like the running brung to him because he was moving fast. It was more like he had been running forever in one place." The simile shows that the dog is extremely fast and big-bodied.
The metaphor of thought
According to the narrator, human beings have different abilities when it comes to making decisions. Consequently, people can face similar problems, but each individual will formulate a problem-solving approach that is different from others. The human brain functions differently based on the prevailing circumstances. Therefore, the narrator argues that their thinking is unique and cannot be compared to other things. The narrator writes, "Now listen what I am going to tell you, Riddley. It thinks us, but it don't think like us. It don't think the way we think. Plus like I said befor its afeart.” Despite the confusing choice of words, this metaphor of thinking is an eye-opener that people are free to think differently as long as the anticipated decision is made.
