Question

Identify the figure of speech in the following sentence:
The music of her laughter made us smile.
A. Apostrophe
B. Simile
C. Metaphor
D. Synecdoche

Answer 1

Hint: A figure of speech is a form of wordplay used for words or phrases which don’t have a meaning in literal sense. It is a style of writing used for giving a twist to language usage; poets, comedians, actors, etc., use figures of speech to be appealing to their audience.

Complete step by step answer:
Option A – Apostrophe: An apostrophe is a figure of speech which has an element of non-living things or unreal things addressed as real things. Example: The universe is telling me today is the day I meet my destiny. The universe in the given case is not a living entity, but is made to sound like one. This does not apply to the given sentence; hence this is not the right option.
Option B – Simile: This figure of speech draws a sense of resemblance to things that do not have anything in common. There is a use of words such as ‘as..as’ or ‘like’, etc. Example: He eats like a squirrel. He was as poor as mud. This is not the right option.
Option C – Metaphor: This figure of speech is a classic figure of speech which gives a rhetorical twist to the writing or a dialog. This is never literally the true meaning of what is being said, but gives the reader or listener a sense of what is being said. The given sentence is an example of a metaphor; hence this is the right option.
Option D – Synecdoche: This figure of speech is used to describe some entity or a group or something that is big, with just a word. A part of that bigger entity is picked and used in a way that it means the entire thing. Example: This is a restaurant on wheels. The word ‘wheels’ in the above sentence means a truck or a minivan. A food truck is being referred to here.
So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note:
If a phrase or a word that is slightly deviated from its usual meaning, it is a figure of speech; identifying what figure of speech it is, gives it a better understanding and creates an appealing feeling to the readers or listeners.