Metaphor

Saying one thing through another, without a word of comparison: instead of saying that something is like another thing, one says that it is. The image transfers to the subject the qualities of the thing it is identified with.

In The Slum

Sentia-se naquela fermentação sanguínea, naquela gula viçosa de plantas rasteiras que mergulham os pés vigorosos na lama preta e nutriente da vida, o prazer animal de existir, a triunfante satisfação de respirar sobre a terra, One could feel in that sanguine fermentation, in that lush gluttony of low plants that plunge their vigorous feet into the black, nourishing mud of life, the animal pleasure of existing, the triumphant satisfaction of breathing over the earth

The residents are "low plants" with "vigorous feet" in the "black and nourishing mud": the plant image says that the tenement's life sprouts from the middle, with the force and hunger of whatever grows in wet earth.

Chapters III to V: The Tenement Wakes and Romão Hires Jerônimo, the narrator

Não era a inteligência nem a razão o que lhe apontava o perigo, mas o instinto, o faro sutil e desconfiado de toda a fêmea pelas outras, quando sente o seu ninho exposto, It was not intelligence or reason that pointed out the danger to her, but instinct, the subtle and distrustful scent every female has for the others when she feels her nest exposed

Chapters VIII to IX: Jerônimo, Leocádia, and Florinda's Scandal, the narrator

tudo se convertia em comendas e crachás; até os modestos dois vinténs de manteiga, que media sobre um pedaço de papel de embrulho para dar ao freguês, transformava-se, de simples mancha amarela, em opulenta insígnia de ouro cravejada de brilhantes, everything turned into commendations and badges; even the modest two vinténs of butter that he measured on a piece of wrapping paper for the customer turned, from a simple yellow stain, into an opulent gold insignia set with diamonds

Chapters X to XI: The Baron's Title, the Razor Slash, and Pombinha's Visit, the narrator

Jerônimo era alto, espadaúdo, construção de touro, pescoço de Hércules, punho de quebrar um coco com um murro: era a força tranquila, o pulso de chumbo, Jerônimo was tall and broad-shouldered, built like a bull, with a Hercules' neck and a fist that could break a coconut with one blow: he was tranquil strength, a wrist of lead

Chapters X to XI: The Baron's Title, the Razor Slash, and Pombinha's Visit, the narrator

beijou-lhe repetidas vezes a barriga e parecia querer beijar também aquele sangue abençoado, que lhes abria os horizontes da vida, que lhes garantia o futuro, she kissed her belly again and again and seemed to want to kiss that blessed blood as well, which opened the horizons of life for them and guaranteed their future

Chapters XII to XIV: Marriage, the Rival Tenement, and the Plan of Revenge, the narrator

A feroz engrenagem daquela máquina terrível, que nunca parava, ia já lançando os dentes a uma nova camada social que, pouco a pouco, se deixaria arrastar inteira lá para dentro, The fierce gears of that terrible machine, which never stopped, were already casting their teeth toward a new social layer that, little by little, would let itself be dragged in whole

Chapters XVIII to XX: Libório, the Renovations, and Piedade's Fall, the narrator

Quem me comeu a carne tem de roer-me os ossos!, Whoever has eaten my flesh must gnaw on my bones!

Chapters XXI to XXIII: Bertoleza's End and Romão's Rise, Bertoleza