"...the thrust of her tongue was like nectar as it met mine" (24) (Simile)
Lucius compares Photis's tongue to nectar, sweet and pleasant to his own senses.
"These, then, were the apposite preliminaries for our gladitorial combat of love" (28) (Metaphor)
Lucius uses war as a metaphor for sex. He sees both of these activities as vigorous, exciting, and bellicose.
"As it tumbled headlong down, it disgorged its silvery waters, opening out into several rivulets, watering the valleys with a succession of pools, and enclosing the whole area like an encompassing sea or a slow-moving river." (61) (Simile)
Lucius deploys the imagery of vast aqueous bodies in order to convey to the reader the breadth of the water at hand in this scene.
"They emerged from beneath the mantlet of their battering-ram, drew their swords, and advanced on the terrified thoughts of that simple girl" (91) (Metaphor)
The metaphor of war is used to describe the ways in which Psyche's sisters go after her. Similar to other metaphors in the story, Apuleius uses war here to help elucidate human relationships.
Cupid and Psyche (metaphor)
The story of Cupid and Psyche acts as a metaphor for Lucius's own journey from immaturity and foolishness to the divine and to wisdom.
