Figuring Out Metaphors

What is a metaphor and how is it different from other literal and figurative statements? In John R. Searle's "Figuring Out Metaphors", he asks this very question, and explains what a metaphor is before beginning to question what it means and does. A Metaphor enhances and makes the images described by the author more creative and interesting. Searle uses the examples "Sally is a block of ice" and "Sam is a pig" to show the metaphors that are easy to find the literal meaning of while using "Sally is a prime number between 17 and 23" to show a more complex metaphor that would be harder for us to figure out. Metaphors can be simple or complex and it can help give a more vivid idea of what the author intends while using fewer, or better, words then with a simple description.