Question

Which figure of speech is used in these lines from Sonnet 10 of the Holy Sonnets by John Donne?

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

A. Synecdoche
B. Personification
C. Metonymy
D. Metaphor
E. Simile

Answer 1

personification for plato

Answer 2

Sonnet 10 of the Holy Sonnets by John Donne, the figure of speech used in the above lines is personification.

Personification is the figure of which attribute a human quality to an abstract figure. In other words, personification refers to attributing human characteristics to anything non-human.

In the above lines, John Donne personifies Death, asking it not to be arrogant or conceited for being powerful. He tells him that he is not a thing to fear and is a pitiful and weak thing it can not cause death to the poet.