Question

Victor is reading a narrative poem about the deeds of gods and heroes. In this work, the author makes long and involved comparisons. Which figure of speech is the author using in the poem?

A.
simile



B.
epic simile



C.
direct metaphor



D.
personification

Answer 1

B. epic simile

An epic simile is a kind of metaphor that uses comparisons to describe an event, someone, a place, etc. by using the words "like", "as" or "as in" and that is developed over several lines of verse, thus it is long, and which it's more commonly found in epic poems (For example, the Iliad and the Odyssey). Its aim is to make the writing more colorful and interesting and serve as decoration to the main subject.

Here is an example of an epic simile from the Odyssey by Homer: “Her mind in torment, wheeling like some lion at bay, dreading the gangs of hunters closing their cunning ring around him for the finish.”

Answer 2

I think the correct answer from the choices listed above is option B. The figure of speech that the author is using would be an epic simile. It is an extended simile often running to several lines, used typically in epic poetry to intensify the heroic stature of the subject and to serve as decoration. Hope this helps.