Question

“Imagination encircles the world" is an example of what figure of speech?
A) Metaphor
B) Simile
C) Adverbial Phrase
D) Adjectival Phrase

Answer 1

Hint: Figures of speech are words or phrases that are imaginatively used to convey a simple meaning. They do not imply their literal meaning and are used for creating imagery or for poetic purposes. These are literary tools of literature.

Complete answer:
We have to identify the figure of speech to which the phrase “ imagination encircles the world” belongs. We can do this by understanding the meaning of the given options and thus identifying the most relatable option.

A) Correct answer - Metaphor is the symbolic meaning of given words/ phrases. It doesn’t imply literal meaning. For e.g. black sheep does not not imply a sheep that is black but a person that is different from the crowd. In the given sentence Imagination encircles the world does not literally imply that imagination enclosing the world. It cannot, it is an abstract noun. It means that imagination can take a person across and around the world.

B) Incorrect answer -Simile compares one thing with another with the use of ‘like’ and ‘as…as….’. It usually compares the quality of a noun to something else. For e.g. The discussions were as smooth as silk. Nothing is being compared in the given phrase/ sentence.

C) Incorrect answer - Adverbial Phrase is a phrase that acts as an adverb. For e.g. in the night. Adverb tells more about a verb and there is no such phrase present in the sentence.

D) Incorrect answer -Adjectival Phrase is a phrase that begins with an adjective and describes a noun/pronoun. For e.g. very calm bird. In the given sentence there is no adjective.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note: Metaphors make indirect comparison but they don't use ‘like’ or ‘as’. They are used in idioms as well. There are complex, compound, live and dead metaphors. They are special tools in language that we use regularly.