Question

Identify the figure of speech in the sentence: ``The silence was so profound, it screamed in my ears."

• A. Oxymoron
• B. Metaphor
• C. Irony
• D. Personification

Hint:

To identify figures of speech, focus on the key phrase and its effect. For personification, look for non-human entities (e.g., objects, concepts) given human traits (e.g., actions, emotions). Compare against definitions of other figures like metaphors (comparisons), oxymorons (contradictory terms), or irony (expectation vs. reality) to eliminate incorrect options. Practice by listing examples of each figure to build familiarity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The sentence "The silence was so profound, it screamed in my ears" employs Personification. The rationale is as follows:

• Personification involves attributing human characteristics to non-human entities. Here, "silence" (an abstract concept) is endowed with the human action of "screaming," a sound typically made by humans or vocal animals.
• This attribution of a human trait (screaming) to silence effectively conveys the extreme intensity of the quiet, generating a potent and dramatic impact.
• Alternative figures of speech such as Oxymoron, Metaphor, and Irony are not applicable. The sentence does not present contradictory terms (Oxymoron), establish a direct comparison without "like" or "as" (Metaphor), or imply a meaning contrary to the literal statement (Irony).