Memories
One of the two protagonists is remembering a special moment before his mother died. "Ben wiped his hand across his eyes, as if he were rubbing away the vision of Duluth." This action brings Ben from the past of the memory back to the present-day of the narrative. The specificity of the language in this simile is the literary equivalent of the technique of a wipe in a film which is used to transition from the past to the present.
Excitement
Much use of metaphorical language in this book is directed toward illustrating the emotions of the characters. "He was sure his heart was going to come crashing through his chest." This description of an overactive heart is a common image used for conveying excitement. In this particular case, Ben's excited state is stimulated by the possibility of being just minutes away from finding his long-lost father.
Bus Legs
Ben has taken a long bus trip and fell asleep so long that none of the other passengers are still on board when he finally awakens and tries to stand up. "His legs felt wobbly, as if he were standing in a canoe." The simile here compares the sensation of prolonged inactivity of the legs. He has been in a sitting position for so long that he feels unsteady and capable of falling over as if the problem were an unsteady surface beneath him rather than being a problem with blood circulation.
The Diorama
The book begins with a series of illustrations of wolves which is then followed by a description of Ben dreaming of being chased by wolves. When he finally makes it to the museum, he is drawn to a particular diorama. "It was as if someone had cut out the dream from his brain and put it behind glass." The diorama depicts not just the events of his dream, but the location where he began his journey. It is a model of a wolf near Gunflint Lake. This is a simile that almost borders on being literal since what Ben is looking at it is a scene that actually occurred in his dream.
Thematic Metaphor
The entire story is based upon a metaphor. "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Ben's mother says this to him and when he asks what it means, she is purposely ambiguous and vague. The meaning becomes clear to Ben by the end. The metaphor is an existential philosophical assertion. Everybody is born into the same boat but those who accomplish something of note are those who pursue a dream.
