Question

In his speech commemorating the life of his mother, Joe said, "Mom gave her heart to her family and community, and I don’t think there’s anyone here who doesn’t have a little piece of her heart with them today." What type of metaphor was Joe using?

Answer 1

Joe used a conceptual metaphor, comparing his mother's love to the physical heart being shared, which is also a metaphor of attribution.

Step-by-step explanation:

In his speech, Joe used a conceptual metaphor, which is a type of metaphor where one idea (in this case, the loving and caring nature of his mother) is understood in terms of another (the physical heart being divided and shared). This specific usage is also an example of a metaphor of attribution, where qualities of a person (the mother's love and care) are attributed to an object (pieces of a heart), suggesting that her love has been incorporated into the lives of those she touched. Joe's speech is using a metaphor to convey his mother's impact and influence. By saying 'Mom gave her heart to her family and community, and I don’t think there’s anyone here who doesn’t have a little piece of her heart with them today,' Joe is comparing his mother's love and devotion to the idea of giving one's heart. He is implying that his mother's love was so deep and all-encompassing that everyone present carries a part of it within them.

Answer 2

Metonymy

Step-by-step explanation:

In metonymy, a kind of metaphor, a writer or speaker uses the name of one object refer to another object to which the first is related. In this speech, Joe, while lauding his mother's magnanimity. compares her heart to something concrete which can be distributed. Heart stands here for love, but the 'little piece' signifies some usable item.