Question

Heathcliff stood near the entrance, in his shirt and trousers; with a candle dripping over his fingers, and his face as white as the wall behind him. The first creak of the oak startled him like an electric shock: the light leaped from his hold to a distance of some feet, and his agitation was so extreme, that he could hardly pick it up. Which figurative language device appears in the bolded text? Alliteration Metaphor Personification Simile

Answer 1

The figurative language device in the bolded text is personification, which attributes human characteristics to the light, suggesting it acts on its own to increase the scene's tension.

Step-by-step explanation:

The figurative language device that appears in the bolded text is personification. Personification is a literary device where human qualities are given to objects, animals, or ideas. In the provided text, the light is personified as it 'leaped from his hold' which implies an action that a living being would do, giving the light human-like capabilities of movement. This creative expression enhances the dramatic tension of the scene by suggesting the light is almost willfully escaping Heathcliff's grip, exemplifying his agitation.