Question

Difficulty: EasyLiterary Devices, Diction, and Style in Prose

Read the prose extract below:

"The old mansion stood at the edge of the town like a lonely sentinel watching over the silent valley."

Which literary device is used in the phrase 'like a lonely sentinel'?

  1. SimileAnswer
  2. B
    Metaphor
  3. C
    Oxymoron
  4. D
    Assonance

Answer

The literary device used in the phrase is a simile.
The expression 'like a lonely sentinel' compares the mansion to a guard using the explicit comparative word 'like', making it a simile.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the phrase 'like a lonely sentinel' in the context of the prose extract.
Identify that two distinct entities (the mansion and a sentinel) are being compared.
Recognizing figurative comparisons is essential for stylistic analysis in prose.
2
Check for explicit comparison markers such as 'like' or 'as'.
The word 'like' is explicitly used to link the mansion to the sentinel.
A direct comparison using 'like' or 'as' defines a simile.

Key Concept

Simile in Prose Diction
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