Question

Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him. In the code of military etiquette silence and fixity are forms of deference. What figure of speech is used to describe "death" in this passage?

A) paradox--death is both a positive and a negative force
B) hyperbole--death is being exaggerated to a great degree
C) metaphor--death is being compared to a dignitary directly
D) simile--death is being compared to a dignitary using "like" or "as"

Answer 1

C) metaphor--death is being compared to a dignitary directly

Step-by-step explanation:

A metaphor is a comparison between two unlike things without using like or as. In this passage, the speaker is comparing death and dignitary. The metaphor is made within the first four words so it is direct. In the passage it doesn't describe death as both positive and negative. Death is being described but through metaphor, not hyperbole. There is no like or as in the passage so simile is not an option.

Answer 2

I believe it is C - metaphor. In the first sentence, if you were to put your name there, it would simply describe you as a dignitary.