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Course description
Metaphor is not just a literary device; it is an essential part of how we perceive and describe the world, of how we think. Suitable for writers working in either poetry or prose, this innovative, imaginative masterclass will examine how metaphor both functions and retains knowledge, and how it can be used as a tool – often surreal, sometimes playful and always elastic – for novel and empathetic thought. We will consider metaphor in the context of our own writing, exploring through close reading and creative exercises how our distinct language for thinking and feeling might be brightened and clarified by the use of unique, original metaphors, bringing increased vividness, freshness and life to our writing.
About the tutor
Jack Underwood is a poet, writer and critic. He is the author of Happiness (Faber 2015), Solo for Mascha Voice (Test Centre, 2018) and A Year in the New Life (Faber 2021). His debut work of nonfiction, Not Even This, was published by Corsair in 2021. He has collaborated widely with composers and artists, and his work has been published internationally and in translation. He is co-presenter and curator of the Faber Poetry Podcast and is a senior lecturer in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths College. His documentary The Metaphor Consultant was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2026.