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"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood." This is an example of what literary device?

A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Alliteration
D. Hyperbole

User Slyprid
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Final answer:

The phrase from Macbeth is an example of a metaphor, using Neptune's ocean as a representation of the immense guilt the character feels, implying that it can't be washed away. The correct option is D. Hyperbole

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood" from Shakespeare's Macbeth is an example of a metaphor. It does not use like or as, which would indicate a simile.

It's also not repetitive like alliteration, nor is it an exaggerated overstatement characteristic of hyperbole. Instead, it uses the vastness of Neptune's ocean as a metaphorical image to represent the enormity of Macbeth's guilt, suggesting that not even the largest of oceans could cleanse his conscience of the blood he has spilled.

The literary device used in the phrase 'Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood' is hyperbole. Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement or claim that is not meant to be taken literally. In this case, the statement exaggerates the idea of Neptune's ocean being able to wash away the blood, emphasizing the guilt and remorse felt by the character.

The correct option is D. Hyperbole

User Wamba
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