metaforisesta

Metaforisesta is a Finnish term used in literary analysis to describe language or texts that are rich in metaphor. The word is formed from metafora, meaning "metaphor," combined with the suffix -ista, which in Finnish denotes a property or quality. In scholarly use, metaforisesta characterizes a style, passage, or work whose meaning is primarily conveyed through figurative language rather than literal description.

It is typically employed in discussions of poetry, prose, and rhetoric to distinguish metaphorical diction from more literal or denotative language. Analysts may describe a text as metaforisesta when it features an extended metaphor, a network of related images, or symbolic associations that require interpretation by the reader. The term can be used descriptively without implying a value judgment, although it can also be contrasted with non-metaphorical or metonymic styles to clarify techniques.

Examples of metaforisesta language include expressions such as "life is a journey" or a city as a living organism, where the meaning emerges from figurative mappings rather than direct statements. In Finnish criticism, metaforisesta is often discussed alongside other figurative devices such as symbol, allegory, and metonymy. See also: metaphor; metonymy; figurative language; Finnish literature.