Question

Identify the figure of speech used in the sentence:
"The wind whispered through the trees."

• A. Simile
• B. Metaphor
• C. Personification
• D. Hyperbole

Hint:

Look closely at the verb attached to the non-human subject and ask: can only a living being literally do this action? If yes, that points to a specific figure of speech, separate from comparisons that use like or as, or statements that directly equate two different things.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Sentence: "The wind whispered through the trees."
This is an instance of personification.

Personification assigns human traits to non-human things or inanimate objects. The word "whispered" implies a human action, attributed here to "the wind." This imbues the wind with a human characteristic, enhancing the sentence's vividness and expressiveness.

Reasons why other figures of speech are incorrect:

• Simile: Compares two distinct entities using "like" or "as." This sentence lacks such a comparison.
• Metaphor: Directly equates one thing to another. This sentence does not perform such a direct equation.
• Hyperbole: Employs extreme exaggeration not intended for literal interpretation. This statement contains no exaggeration.

Consequently, the applicable figure of speech is personification.