The Dead Metaphor and Symbol

Metaphor: "Lily, the caretaker's daughter, was literally run off her feet" (Joyce 151).
The tenor is Lily, and the vehicle is feet.
As this is the first line in the story, it sets the tone. By saying, "literally run off her feet", Joyce is showing how hectic the party will be, with people always coming in and out. The sisters and even Lily seem to constantly be running to the door and worrying about who will come in and who won't. There always seems to be people coming in and out as well.
The pace of the novel is quick too, especially with the dashes to indicate conversation and speech. This line can also emphasis the pace of the story.
The story switches from character to character quickly as well, and this can be hinted at from the quote.

Symbol: Snow
The snow is a motif/symbol in this story, as it comes up many times from the beginning and end. Snow is referenced first on the second page, and as well on the last page of the story. The snow is literal since it's winter and it's snowing. The snow is falling all over Ireland. The snow is also figurative though, since it's falling it lays a heavy covering over everything in Ireland. There is more reference to the snow at the end of the story, when guests are leaving the party. Towards the end, Gabriel and his wife Gretta, become emotional as she explains to him a story of a love that died. On the walk home, Gabriel was excited to rekindle his relationship with Gretta, but since the snow is heavy and covering everything, it seems to cover his mood too since their mood shifts since they're talking about death. Also, the heaviness of snow that's on the ground can relate to how the story changes mood and switches to a darker, more sad mood towards the end because of the talk of death. Snow also falls mostly in winter, and winter represents death.