Final answer:
The figure of speech used in "Nature shaking off sleep" is personification, which attributes human traits to non-human entities to enhance imagery and reader engagement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of figure of speech used in the phrase "Nature shaking off sleep" is known as personification. Personification is a figurative language device where human characteristics are attributed to non-human entities. In this expression, nature is given the human action of shaking off sleep, suggesting a revitalization or awakening, as if nature itself were coming to life after a period of rest. Not only does this enhance the imagery of the scene, but it also engages the reader through a human action that is familiar, facilitating a deeper connection with the description of nature's transformation.
Personification often enhances descriptions by allowing readers to relate more closely to the phenomena being described, thereby bringing personal narratives, memoirs, and even poetry to life. By attributing human-like qualities to inanimate objects or abstract concepts, writers can convey emotions and ideas in a nuanced and compelling way that stark literal descriptions might not achieve.