What is Analogy? | Know Your Aptitude Class 3 To 5 - Class 5 PDF Download

Introduction

An analogy is a way of explaining something by comparing it to something else. It helps us understand a new or complex idea by drawing similarities between it and something more familiar. 

Analogies often use metaphors or similes to make these comparisons and make it easier for people to grasp the concept being explained. The main aim is to compare and contrast two ideas or objects so that we can understand them more easily. 

Meaning of Analogy

An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically to explain something unfamiliar or complex by pointing out similarities with something more familiar. It is a way of illustrating a concept or idea by drawing parallels between two different things to make it easier to understand.

Analogies often use words like "like" or "as" to establish connections between the two subjects being compared. 

Example: Complete the following after identifying relations.

(i) Nurse: Hospital:: Teacher:? 
Ans: School (The relationship is the professional and their workplace: a nurse works in a hospital and a teacher works in a school.) 

(ii) Earth: Planet:: Sun:? 
Ans: Star (The relationship is specific to the general category: Earth is a type of planet and Sun is a type of star) 

(iii) Glasses: Eyes:: Hearing Aid:? 
Ans: Ears (The relationship is the device and the sensory organ it assists: glasses assist eyes and hearing aids assist ears)

(iv) Wax: Candle:: Ink:? 
Ans: Pen (The relationship is the material and the object it is commonly used in: wax is used in candles and ink is used in pens) 

(v) Starve : Food:: Dehydrate:? 

Ans: Water (The relationship is the condition caused by a lack of a particular substance: starving is caused by a lack of food, and dehydration is caused by a lack of water)

Simile Vs Metaphor Vs Analogy

A metaphor is when you say something is like another thing, and a simile is when you compare things using "like" or "as." Both help writers explain things more interestingly. However, an analogy is used to give more details and make things clearer.

Venn diagram showing Simile, Metaphor, and Analogy

Let us look at an example to convey the same thing using different ways - using a metaphor, simile, and analogy.

Metaphor: His thoughts were a storm.
Simile: His thoughts were like a storm.
Analogy: His thoughts were similar to a storm, causing a lot of confusion.

Writers can use metaphors and similes to make analogies, but not all metaphors and similes are analogies.

A table stating the differences between Simile, Metaphor, and Analogy is given below:

Different Types of Analogy

There are mainly 7 types of analogies namely - Synonyms, Opposite Analogy, Part to Whole Analogy, Cause and Analogy, Action and Object, and Characteristic Quality.

Given below are the different types of analogies with their examples.

1. Synonyms - Synonyms are words that share similar meanings or convey comparable ideas.  
   • Examples - Happy and Joyful, Smart and Intelligent, Tired and Exhausted, Beautiful and Attractive.
2. Opposite Analogy - Opposite analogy is a figure of speech where two contrasting ideas, concepts, or elements are juxtaposed to emphasize their differences.  
   
   • Examples - Love and Hate, Darkness and Light, Strength and Weakness,Hell and Heaven.
3. Part-to-whole - Part-to-whole analogy, or synecdoche, is a rhetorical device where a part of something is used to refer to the whole or the whole is used to represent a part. 
   
   
   • Examples - Sleeve is to shirt, Branch is to Tree, Nose is to face, Page is to book.
4. Cause and Effect - A cause-and-effect analogy represents the relationship between two events, phenomena, or situations where one is the reason or factor behind the occurrence of the other.  
   
   • Examples - Rain and wet Ground, Smoking and Lung Cancer, Education, and Career Options, Lack of Exercise, and Weight Gain
5. Action and Object - An action and object analogy represents the relationship between a verb (action) and its corresponding noun (object), where the action is directed toward or involves the object.  
   
   • Examples - Cook and Meal, Plant and Garden, Write and Letter, Play and Music 
6. Characteristic-Quality - A characteristic-quality analogy is a comparison that highlights the inherent nature or distinctive feature of something by likening it to a quality. 
   • Examples - Beauty and Elegance, Creativity and Innovation, Wisdom and Discernment, Honesty and Integrity

Example: Complete the following analogies.

(i) Pacify is to calm as provoke is to __________. 

Ans: angry
Since "pacify" is a verb that means "to cause someone angry or upset to become calm or quiet," if you pacify someone, they become calm. Since "provoke" means "to cause a person or animal to become angry or violent," "angry" is the correct answer.  

(ii) Sick is to doctor as lonely is to __________.  

Ans: Friend
When you are suffering from sickness you go to a doctor, so to solve this analogy you have to determine to whom you go when you are suffering from loneliness. The correct answer is “friend.”

(iii) Sneeze is to ill as snore is to __________. 

Ans: sleeping
Someone who is ill might sneeze, so we need to pick out another word that represents the state of someone who might snore. One only snores if they are sleeping, not if they are tired, so "sleeping" is the correct answer. 

(iv) Rain is to flood as heat is to __________. 

Ans: fire
Because floods can be caused by too much rain, we're looking for a word that describes something that can be caused by too much heat. Since too much heat can cause a fire, just like too much rain can cause a flood, "fire" is the correct answer.

(v) Grin is to happiness as grimace is to __________.

Ans: disgust

A grimace is most similar to a frown but indicates a high level of distaste or disgust. As one smiles or grins when he/she feels happiness, one might grimace when he/she feels disgusted. Delight is another emotion that would be signaled facially with a grin.  

(vi) Molten is to liquid as evaporated is to __________. 

Ans: gas

"Molten" means turned into "liquid" using heat. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that "evaporation" does. The correct answer is that to be "evaporated" is to be turned into "gas" using heat. 

(vii) Failure is to displeasing as affection is to __________. 

Ans: comforting
It is a quality of "failure" that it is "displeasing" (upsetting, not pleasing). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a quality of "affection" (love, fondness, caring and liking). The correct answer is that it would usually be "comforting."