Explore the fascinating world of American Literature and Drama with quizzes on literary devices and themes. Discover essential concepts and prepare effectively for your exam!

Multiple Choice

A direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as' is called a ...?

Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct claim that one thing is another, without using like or as. That’s why a phrase such as “Time is a thief” works as a metaphor: it asserts an identity between time and a thief to convey how time steals moments. A simile would say “Time is like a thief,” using like. The other terms describe different devices—repetition repeats words or sounds, and onomatopoeia imitates sounds—so they don’t fit this description.

Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct claim that one thing is another, without using like or as. That’s why a phrase such as “Time is a thief” works as a metaphor: it asserts an identity between time and a thief to convey how time steals moments. A simile would say “Time is like a thief,” using like. The other terms describe different devices—repetition repeats words or sounds, and onomatopoeia imitates sounds—so they don’t fit this description.