Read the excerpt below regarding a theatrical production:
"During the opening night of the experimental play, the lead actor's voice was a roaring tempest that echoed through the hall. Although the playwright called the premiere 'an unmitigated success of quiet proportions', the veteran producer noted that the box office had finally breathed a sigh of relief."
Match each underlined figurative expression from the text on the left with its correct contextual meaning and literary function on the right.
- the lead actor's voice was a roaring tempestMetaphor conveying an overwhelming, powerful, and resonant vocal performance
- an unmitigated success of quiet proportionsOxymoronic irony highlighting a modest or underwhelming reception
- the box office had finally breathed a sigh of reliefPersonification indicating the easing of commercial tension and financial strain
Answer
The expression 'the lead actor's voice was a roaring tempest' matches with the metaphor describing a powerful vocal performance; 'an unmitigated success of quiet proportions' matches with the oxymoronic irony highlighting an underwhelming reception; and 'the box office had finally breathed a sigh of relief' matches with the personification indicating financial relief.
Each expression matches its accurate device and context: 'roaring tempest' functions as a metaphor for acoustic strength, 'unmitigated success of quiet proportions' employs oxymoronic irony to characterize a modest reception, and 'breathed a sigh of relief' personifies the financial state of the box office.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying contextual figures of speech and analyzing their literary function