Question 9 of 13intermediate🔍 AnalyzeShort Answer2 marks

The poet uses a metaphor in the line, ‘The first step is the hardest’. Explain why this is metaphorical.

Correct Answer

The line 'The first step is the hardest' is metaphorical because the first step does not refer to a literal physical movement. Instead, it symbolises the initial resolve required to begin the journey of personal development.

Taking this step represents breaking away from the comfort zone of the status quo and overcoming the fear of change. The metaphor highlights that making the initial choice to step into the future is the most difficult part of growth, requiring one to believe in themselves to move forward.

Exercise: Check your Understanding | Q: VII | (Page 5)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The textbook context explicitly states that 'The first step symbolises the initial [effort] required to begin the journey of [change] or personal development.' A metaphor works by using a concrete image (a step) to represent an abstract idea (the initial effort of personal growth). The context also links this to leaving the 'comfort zone' and overcoming the 'fear of change', which explains why it is the 'hardest'—it requires the most mental resolve to break the status quo.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify that 'first step' is not literal but symbolises the initial effort for personal development.

  2. Step 2: Connect the 'hardness' of the step to the difficulty of leaving the comfort zone and overcoming the fear of change.

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