what is an extended metaphor

An extended metaphor, also known as a conceit or sustained metaphor, is a literary device that involves the use of a single metaphor or analogy at length in a work of literature. It differs from a simple metaphor in its length and in having more than one single point of contact between the object described (the tenor) and the comparison used to describe it (the vehicle). An extended metaphor can extend over the course of multiple lines, paragraphs, or stanzas of prose or poetry, and it is developed in great detail, using various subjects, images, ideas, and situations. It is a way for authors to convey complex ideas in an interesting and memorable way, and it is commonly used in poetry as well as prose