Figurative Language in Literature

Front

Literary device in: "When the stars threw down their spears, And water'd heaven with their tears"

Back

Personification

Answer explanation

Stars don't have spears or tears. Those are human qualities given to non-human things, which is personification.

Front

Literary device in: "The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor."

Back

metaphor

Answer explanation

The moon is being compared to a galleon (ship), and the road is compared to a ribbon of moonlight, without using "like" or "as"

Front

Literary device in: "Like burnt out torches by a sick man's bed, gaunt cypress trees stand 'round."

Back

simile

Answer explanation

The cypress trees are being compared to torches using "like."

Front

Literary device in: "I do not care to talk to you although Your speech evokes a thousand sympathies."

Back

hyperbole

Answer explanation

To speaker is exaggerating the number of sympathies given.

Front

Literary device in: "The sun was shining on the sea, / Shining with all his might"

Back

personification

Answer explanation

The sun is given human qualities.

Front

Literary device in: "The leaves are little yellow fish swimming in the river."

Back

metaphor

Answer explanation

The leaves are being compared to fish without using "like" or "as."

Front

Literary device in: "The stars in the sky, Exist but to light your passing feet."

Back

hyperbole

Answer explanation

It is an exaggeration to claim that the stars exist to light a person's steps.

Front

Literary device in: "They only know our love was brief, And passing like an autumn leaf."

Back

simile

Answer explanation

Their love is being compared to an autumn leaf using "like."

Front

Literary device in: "The stones of the field are sharp as steel."

Back

Simile

Answer explanation

Stones are compared to steel using "as."

Front

Literary device in: "People call me the Tiger Woods of miniature golf."

Back

allusion

Answer explanation

Tiger Woods, a famous pro-golfer, is alluded to in this example.