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Metaphor Project:

American Story Elements

(Key Elements Of the Mainstream American Story Used To Create Metaphors)

 

 

l. The American Dream

The American Dream: pioneer, frontier, cowboy, the traveler, the
new, bright future, we invent ourselves b/c we are a "can do" people
(or reinvent, redeem, renew or restore), we like things bigger, better,
higher, up, improved, fresh, more of everything, we do what works

 

2. The American Nation

The American Nation: nation with a mission, beacon of hope,
melting pot, cradle of liberty, democracy's defender, champion &
missionary, home of equal opportunity, of choice, and of power,
conscience of the world, rule of law, human rights, political rights, a
classless society

 

3. Free to Succeed

Horatio Alger, rags to riches, being good=being rich,
a rising tide lifts all boats, individual effort, innovate, compete,
win by hard work and being smart, winning, being on the winning
team

 

4. We're on a Roll

going, moving, driving, rolling, accelerating,
going toward, no limits, a fast pace, online, trip, travel, travel on,
escape, journey

 

5. Small Town Security

clean, safe, secure, moral, friendly,
consensus, middle, practical, compromise, cooperate, protect,
participate, healthy, honest, caring, orderly, common sense, true,
fair, tough love, limits, home sweet home, doing right, being just,
having a heart, being innocent

 

6. Man to Superman

Clark Kent, Batman, Wonder Woman, bionic
people, spiritual machines (man to machine), the endless techfix,
scientific magic, super seeds, super genes, genetic alteration of all
genomes, Harry Potter, James Bond, Frodo Baggins

 

Susan Strong, Ph.D.
www.metaphorproject.org
tel. 925-254-7198
Post Office Box 892, Orinda, CA, 94563
fax 925-254-3304
e-mail:sstrong@igc.org