Metaforafolyam

Metaforafolyam is a term used in literary theory to describe a technique in which a sequence of metaphors is presented in close succession to develop a concept, image, or argument. The word combines metafora (metaphor) and folyam (flow or stream), indicating a continuous progression of figurative associations that shapes perception rather than a single isolated comparison.

Within a metaforafolyam, individual metaphors are linked by shared domains, sensory texture, or thematic progression. The technique relies on metaphorical extension, where a first image triggers a chain of related metaphors, reinterpreting subsequent material through the evolving frame. The rhythm and momentum produced by the sequence can intensify meaning and evoke a cumulatively layered vision.

Uses of the concept are most commonly discussed in poetry and experimental prose, where writers seek to create cohesion through networks of image and to dramatize transformation or to probe ambiguity at the edge of metaphor. A metaforafolyam can serve as a device for exploring complex relationships, moral or political stakes, or perceptual shifts by sustaining a metaphorical field over a passage or whole work.

Criticism and limitations: scholars warn that a metaforafolyam can overwhelm readers with density or obscure argument if not carefully controlled. Effective implementations balance novelty with intelligibility and ensure the sequence serves a deliberate purpose rather than merely accumulating images. When used judiciously, the technique can produce a distinctive expressive texture and reinforce thematic unity.

See also: metaphor, metaphor theory, chain metaphor.