Figurative Language Uses

Figurative Language Test
Directions: Choose only one answer.
SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS: Match the term with the definition. .
For questions 1 through 4. Not all of the choices are used.

1. metaphor A. exaggeration for effect

2. alliteration B. comparison of two or more things using "like" or "as"

3. simile C. when one idea or sentence is stretched over two or more lines.

4. hyperbole D. repeating the same starting sounds of words.

E. comparison of two things without using "like" or "as"
Answers:
1. E
2. D
3. B
4. A


5. rhythm A. repeating the same starting sounds of words.

6. repetition B. when one idea or sentence is stretched over two or more lines.

7. rhyme C. a regular pattern of stresses, like a beat.

8. enjambment D. when a poet repeats a word or words to emphasize

E. when two words share the same final sound
Answers:
5. C
6. D
7. E
8. B

9. personification A. when a words pronunciation imitates its sound

10. onomatopoeia B. when the outcome of a situation is the exact opposite of what was
expected
11. imagery
C. giving human traits or abilities to nonhuman things.
12. irony
D. writing that uses the five senses to create "pictures"

E. exaggeration for effect
9. C
10. A
11. D
12. B
SECTION 2 – EXAMPLES
Directions: Read the following examples of figurative language. Identify the poetic device that

is most clearly being used. Choose the best answer.
13. O, ride you fast, yet at the last,

Hate faster rides,
a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

these
Answer: Personification
Answer Explanation: This is personification because hate is given the ability to ride.
14. A moment since, the office boy,

Invisible as night,
Rested on some dim-curtained shelf
these
Answer: Simile
Answer Explanation: This is a simile because the boy is compared to night using the word "as."
15. Would I might mend the tattered fabric of my youth...

these
Answer: Metaphor
Answer Explanation:This is a metaphor because the speaker compares his youth to a tattered
fabric without using "like" or "as."
16. Three drowsy poppies brooded by the wall,

Lonely and tall.

these
Answer Explanation:This is personification because the poppies are given the qualities of
loneliness and drowsiness. They are also give the ability to brood.
17. You need but lift a hand and sigh;

And all men's hearts must beat for you.

these
Answer: Hyperbole
Answer Explanation:This is hyperbole because the speaker is exaggerating her beauty. Some
men would take little or no interest in her.
18. The wind and the rain, the wind and the rain
Tinkle and drip, tinkle and drip-- branches drifting apart.

these
Answer:None of these
Answer Explanation: This is not an example of figurative language; however, this example
does use onomatopoeia, repetition, and imagery.
19. The burning fire shakes in the night,
Silver candles gleam,
The trees are lost in dream.

these
Answer Explanation:This is personification because the trees are given the ability to get lost in
a dream.
20. My heart is like an apple-tree

Whose boughs are bent with thick-set fruit;

these
Answer:Simile
Answer Explanation:This is a simile because the speaker compares his or her heart to an apple
tree using the word "like."
21. This is the hardest question that anyone has ever had to answer.

these
Answer: Hyperbole
Answer Explanation: This is hyperbole because it is exaggerating the difficulty of the question.
There are much harder questions than that one.
22. The green and greedy seas have drowned
That city's glittering walls and towers,

these
Answer Explanation: This is personification because the seas are given the quality of
greediness and the city's walls and towers are given the ability to drown.
23. When they found him dead,

His hand was cold as lead.

these
Answer: Simile
Answer Explanation: This is a simile because his hand is compared to lead using the word "as."

24. Your eyes are a shadowy sea
In the starry darkness of night.

these
Answer: Metaphor
Answer Explanation: This is a metaphor because the speaker compares "your" eyes to a
shadowy sea without using the word "like" or "as."
25. The water reflects the reeds.

these
Answer: None of these
Answer Explanation: This is not an example of figurative language, though it is an example of

visual imagery.
26. She looked across the empty street,
And saw Death softly watching her
In the sunshine pale and sweet.

these
Answer Explanation: This is personification because death is given the ability to watch her
softly. Death is also given the quality of sweetness.
SECTION 3 – WHOLE POEMS: Read the poems and the questions. Choose the BEST
answer.
Stupidity Simplicity
Amy Lowell By: Emily Dickinson

Dearest, forgive that with my clumsy touch How happy is the little stone
I broke and bruised your rose. That rambles3 in the road alone,
I hardly could suppose And doesn't care about careers,
It were a thing so fragile that my clutch And exigencies4 never fears;
Could kill it, thus. Whose coat of elemental5 brown
A passing universe put on;
It stood so proudly up upon its stem, And independent as the sun,
I knew no thought of fear, Associates or glows alone,
And coming very near Fulfilling absolute decree6
Fell, overbalanced, to your garment's1 hem, In casual simplicity.
Tearing it down.

Now, stooping, I upgather, one by one,

The crimson petals, all
Outspread about my fall. 1. garment: clothing; the speaker is referring to the rose's
petals
They hold their fragrance still, a blood-red
cone 2. grieve: to feel deep sorrow or regret
Of memory. 3. ramble: to walk for pleasure
4. exigency: an urgent need or demand

5. elemental: primary or basic
And with my words I carve a little jar
6. decree: an order
To keep their scented dust,
Which, opening, you must
Breathe to your soul, and, breathing, know

me far
More grieved2 than you.
27. Which of the above poems has a stronger rhythm?

a. Stupidity b. Simplicity
Answer: B
Answer Explanation: Simplicity has a very strong rhythm while Stupidity uses a distant, though
measured, scheme that isn't very rhythmic.
28. Which of the above poems use rhyme?
a. Stupidity b. Simplicity c. both of these poems d. neither of these
poems
Answer: C
Answer Explanation: Both of these poems have a lot of rhymes.
29. Which of the above poems uses simile?

poems
Answer: B
Answer Explanation; In Simplicity, the stone is compared to the sun in this line: " independent
as the sun." Since the speaker uses "as" to make the comparison, this is a simile.
30. Which of the above poems uses personification?
poems
Answer: C
Answer Explanation: Both of these poems use personification. In Stupidity, the rose is given
human characteristics and abilities, such as standing proudly and wearing garments. In
Simplicity, the stone is given human abilities and qualities such as rambling and as happiness.
31. Which of the above poems uses metaphor?
poems
Answer: A
Answer Explanation: Metaphor is used in Stupidity. It Stupidity, the speaker talks of creating a
jar of words. In that example she is comparing her words to a jar. Another example would be
when she compares the petals of the rose to garments. In Simplicity, if one were to interpret the
coat on the rock as a jacket, rather than a coating of mud or grime, one might believe that
Simplicity contains a metaphor too, but this is probably a misinterpretation.
32. In which of the above poems does the speaker use a pleasant or joyful tone?
poems
Answer: B
Answer Explanation: The speaker in Simplicity uses a pleasant tone. I know this because the
speaker uses words and phrases like "happy" and "never fears." The speaker in Stupidity uses a
mournful or regretful tone. I know this because the speaker uses words like "grieved."

33. In which of the above poems does the poet repeat a line?
poems
Answer: D
Answer Explanation: Neither poet repeats a line in these poems.
Approach of Winter The Skaters
William Carlos Williams John Gould Fletcher

The half stripped trees Black swallows swooping or gliding
struck by a wind together, In a flurry of entangled loops and curves;
bending all, The skaters skim over the frozen river.
the leaves flutter drily And the grinding click of their skates as they impinge3
upon the
and refuse to let go
surface,
or driven like hail
Is like the brushing together of thin wing-tips of silver.
stream bitterly out to one side

and fall

where the salvias , hard
1
carmine2,-- 1. salvia: a plant from the mint family known for bright
flowers
like no leaf that ever was--
2. carmine: a bright crimson or red color
edge the bare garden.
3. impinge: to touch or affect something in a negative
way.

34. Which of these poems uses simile?
a. Approach of Winter b. The Skaters c. Both of these d. Neither of these
Answer: C
Answer Explanation:Both of these poems use simile. In Approach of Winter, the speaker
compares the leaves to hail using the word "like." In The Skaters, the speaker compares the
sound of the skates to brushing using the word "like."
35. Which of these poems uses metaphor?
Answer: D
Answer Explanation:Neither of these poems contain a metaphor.
36. Which of the above poems uses rhyme?
Answer: D
Answer Explanation:Neither of these poems contain any rhymes; however, you can find some
nice examples of consonance.
37. Which of the above poems uses personification?
Answer: A
Answer Explanation: Readers can find a good example of personification in Approach of

Winter when the speaker describes the leaves as refusing to let go.
38. Which of the above poems has more examples of onomatopoeia?

Answer: B
Answer Explanation: Though the word flutter, which is used in Approach of Winter, is
onomatopoeic, there are more onomatopoeic words to be found in The Skaters: grinding, click,
skim, and brushing.
39. Which of the above poems uses hyperbole?
Answer: A
Answer Explanation:In Approach of Winter, the salvia leaves at the edge of the garden are
described in this way: "like no leaf that ever was." This is not really a simile, because the leaves
are not being compared to different leaves, they are being compared to the absence of a leaf, or
like no leaf that ever was. This can be interpreted as hyperbole, because the leaves were probably
pretty similar to many other leaves that grow on plants of the same type.
40. Which of the above poems maintains a continuous rhythm?
Answer: D
Answer Explanation: Neither of these poems maintain a continuous rhythm.

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Figurative Language Uses

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Figurative Language Test

Directions: Choose only one answer.

SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS: Match the term with the definition. .

1. metaphor A. exaggeration for effect

2. alliteration B. comparison of two or more things using "like" or "as"

4. hyperbole D. repeating the same starting sounds of words.

E. comparison of two things without using "like" or "as"

5. rhythm A. repeating the same starting sounds of words.

7. rhyme C. a regular pattern of stresses, like a beat.

8. enjambment D. when a poet repeats a word or words to emphasize

E. when two words share the same final sound

9. personification A. when a words pronunciation imitates its sound

C. giving human traits or abilities to nonhuman things.

D. writing that uses the five senses to create "pictures"

E. exaggeration for effect

is most clearly being used. Choose the best answer.

13. O, ride you fast, yet at the last,

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

14. A moment since, the office boy,

15. Would I might mend the tattered fabric of my youth...

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

16. Three drowsy poppies brooded by the wall,

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

17. You need but lift a hand and sigh;

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

Tinkle and drip, tinkle and drip-- branches drifting apart.

19. The burning fire shakes in the night,

Silver candles gleam,

The trees are lost in dream.

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

20. My heart is like an apple-tree

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

22. The green and greedy seas have drowned

That city's glittering walls and towers,

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

23. When they found him dead,

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

In the starry darkness of night.

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

25. The water reflects the reeds.

a. metaphor b. personification c. simile d. hyperbole e. none of

Answer: None of these

Answer Explanation: This is not an example of figurative language, though it is an example of

26. She looked across the empty street,

And saw Death softly watching her

In the sunshine pale and sweet.

Amy Lowell By: Emily Dickinson

I hardly could suppose And doesn't care about careers,

Could kill it, thus. Whose coat of elemental5 brown

A passing universe put on;

I knew no thought of fear, Associates or glows alone,

And coming very near Fulfilling absolute decree6

Fell, overbalanced, to your garment's1 hem, In casual simplicity.

Now, stooping, I upgather, one by one,

Of memory. 3. ramble: to walk for pleasure

4. exigency: an urgent need or demand

Which, opening, you must

Breathe to your soul, and, breathing, know

More grieved2 than you.

27. Which of the above poems has a stronger rhythm?

a. Stupidity b. Simplicity

28. Which of the above poems use rhyme?

Answer Explanation: Both of these poems have a lot of rhymes.