Question

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

Answer 1

‘The first step is the hardest’ is a metaphor. The poet is discussing beginning something new or making a significant decision rather than walking with our feet. Starting a challenge, confronting fear, or changing one’s life are examples of the ‘first step.’ Declaring it the hardest demonstrates that ‘starting’ is typically more challenging than continuing later. Because it compares ‘starting a challenge’ to ‘taking a step’ without utilising terms like ‘like’ or ‘as,’ this is a figure of speech.