Question

Name the literary device in the line "Because it was grassy and wanted wear".
A) Simile
B) Metaphor
C) Alliteration
D) Irony

Answer 1

Hint: Literary devices are methods used by writers to take a piece of poetry or literature way beyond its literal meaning. This is achieved by creating comparisons, imagination, forging connections and writing sentences that grab the attention of the reader.

Complete answer:
We need to know about the different literary devices given in the question and try to find any patterns in the given statement that tell us what literary device is being used.
Option A) Simile – This is a literary or a poetic device which involves the comparison of one thing with another. It is used with the purpose of making a description more emphatic or vivid. For e.g. The skyscrapers were as high as the mountains. There is no comparison being made in the line given in the question. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Option B) Metaphor – This is a literary device in which a term or a phrase is used to refer to something to which it is not literally applicable, but is used anyways to express resemblance. For example; I am going through a rollercoaster of emotions after all that has happened this week. There is no such phrase in the question that has a non-literal meaning. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Option C) Alliteration – This is a literary device in which there is the occurrence of same sounds or same letters at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. For e.g. red riding hood, a cup of cold coffee etc. In the sentence given in the question we can see this pattern in “wanted wear”. Thus, this option is correct.

Option D) Irony – This is a poetic device in which the expression of one’s meaning signifies the opposite of the actual meaning or intention is. For e.g. My sister and I coming to the party wearing the same outfit is a coincidence. This sentence is an ‘irony’ when it actually means that it was not a coincidence. There is no such incident being discussed in the question. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (C) Alliteration.

Note: Since alliteration refers to the similar letters or similar sounds of the beginning of adjacent words, it is also known as head rhyme or initial rhyme. There is also a different kind of alliteration known as Symmetrical alliteration in which the alliteration contains parallelism and chiasmus.