Final answer:
The phrase 'where vanity once punched him hard' uses personification, a figure of speech that attributes human qualities to non-human entities. It exemplifies how an abstract concept like vanity can have a tangible emotional effect, as if it could physically strike a person.
Step-by-step explanation:
The figure of speech exemplified in the phrase "where vanity once punched him hard" is personification. Personification is a literary device where human qualities, emotions, or actions are attributed to non-human entities, such as abstract concepts or inanimate objects. In this case, vanity, an abstract concept, is given the human ability to punch, which vividly illustrates the emotional impact or consequences of vanity on the individual.
Personification enhances the expressiveness of language, particularly in literature and poetry, by creating vivid imagery and emotional connection. The use of such figurative language can bring abstract concepts to life, allowing readers to relate to them as though they were human. This device is fundamental not only for adding depth to literary works but also for making the text more engaging and relatable.
An example of personification from literature is when William Wordsworth describes daffodils as dancing in "I wandered lonely as a cloud", which suggests that the flowers are performing a joyous human action. Similarly, by saying that vanity "punched" him, the author creates a powerful image of the influence vanity can have on a person, as if it were a physical blow.