Figures of Speech: What am I?

The wind howled outside her bedroom window.

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Oxymoron

• Irony

Answer explanation

Personification is a comparison in which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about as if it were human qualities, abilities, feelings, and reactions.

The sentence personifies the wind, which has the ability to howl at the bedroom window.

The recent typhoon was a monster.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Irony

Answer explanation

Metaphor is a comparison of two unrelated objects without the use of as or like.

In the sentence, the typhoon is compared to a monster without the use of as or like.

His neighbor, who is a shoemaker, wears tattered shoes.

• Paradox

• Metaphor

• Oxymoron

• Irony

Answer explanation

In irony, words are used in a way that the intended meaning is different from what it actually meant or a contrast between what is expected and what really happens.

What makes the sentence ironic is the fact that his neighbor is a shoemaker but also wears tattered shoes.

The destroyed houses during the storm were like trash scattered around.

• Paradox

• Irony

• Simile

• Metaphor

Answer explanation

Simile is a comparison of two unrelated objects with the use of as or like.

In the sentence, the destroyed houses were compared to trash.

The leaves danced along the sidewalk.

• Personification

• Metaphor

• Oxymoron

• Simile

Answer explanation

Personification is a comparison in which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about as if it were human qualities, abilities, feelings, and reactions.

The sentence emphasized the qualities of leaves to whisper and dance. Take note that these attributed qualities are only done by humans.

"O, miserable abundance, O, beggarly riches!"

-John Donne

• Oxymoron

• Irony

• Personification

• Paradox

Answer explanation

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that employs contradictory words.

In the sentence, why would abundance be miserable? Why would riches be beggarly? Clearly, these words are contradictory, making them an oxymoron.

"I must be cruel to be kind."

-Shakespeare

• Metaphor

• Oxymoron

• Paradox

• Personification

Answer explanation

Paradox is a figure of speech which appears to contradict itself but can be true. It is usually perceived as illogical and untrue, but after a second look, it contains a grain of truth.

The sentence may seem illogical at first but this actually means that, if you are concerned with a person, you need to be frank and tell them their mistake even if it will hurt them.

The sky wept all day long.

• Oxymoron

• Irony

• Metaphor

• Personification

Answer explanation

Personification is a comparison in which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about as if it were human qualities, abilities, feelings, and reactions.

In the sentence, the sky is a nonhuman thing and used as if it had human feelings as stated that "it wept all day long"

The man built high walls that can be easily climbed by intruders.

• Oxymoron

• Personification

• Irony

• Simile

Answer explanation

In irony, words are used in a way that the intended meaning is different from what it actually meant or a contrast between what is expected and what really happens.

The sentence becomes ironic since although the man built high walls yet can still be easily climbed by intruders, making it contrasting.

Tina looked awfully pretty at the prom yesterday.

• Paradox

• Simile

• Oxymoron

• Personification

Answer explanation

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that employs contradictory words.

In the sentence, awful and pretty are used, which are contradictory. Why would someone who looks awful also look pretty?