Which figure of speech uses "like" or "as" for comparison?

Enhance your readiness for the MTEL English Test. Study effectively with engaging quizzes, offering hints and detailed explanations. Get prepared for your MTEL exam today!

The figure of speech that employs the words "like" or "as" to draw comparisons between different things is known as a simile. This literary device creates vivid imagery and helps to illustrate similarities by directly correlating one thing to another. For example, saying "as brave as a lion" uses "as" to compare bravery to the qualities typically associated with lions.

In contrast, metaphors also create comparisons but do so without using "like" or "as," instead directly stating that one thing is another (e.g., "time is a thief"). Personification attributes human characteristics to non-human entities, infusing inanimate objects or abstract concepts with human qualities. Alliteration is a stylistic device that involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words for effect, rather than comparison. Thus, similes specifically utilize "like" or "as," making it the correct choice in this question.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy