Question

Which figure of speech is used in this excerpt?
Before the barn door strutted the gallant wingspan, that pattern of a husband, a warrior and a fine gentleman, clapping his burnished wings and crowing in the pride and gladness of his heart,—sometimes tearing up the earth with his feet, and then generously calling his ever-hungry family of wives and children to enjoy the rich morsel which he had discovered.
(From the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving)

A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Repetition
D. Simile

Answer 1

well, we can cut out at least 1 at first glance. What is is?

Answer 2

No, I got that wrong, we can cut out 2.

Answer 3

I know it not a. and I know its not C

Answer 4

I think its B

Answer 5

give me the definititions of simile vs. personification.

Answer 6

Simile: a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid; Personification: the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

Answer 7

Okay, so why do you think is is B?

Answer 8

And keep in mind, I'm not saying you are wrong either.

Answer 9

By process of elimination. because repetition is the action of repeating something that has already been said or written. And we eliminated the other two

Answer 10

But we didn't eliminate simile. And if you look back at your last message, you'll see that it could be either. Because a husband isn't nessisarily human, neither is a warrior.

Answer 11

Or really a gentleman.

Answer 12

If this is something you need an answer to now, go with your gut. If it isn't, keep dancing around with me.

Answer 13

im not in a rush so lets keep dancing

Answer 14

a gentlemen is a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man. So it would have to be a human

Answer 15

Ok, but if we aren't giving the exact wording of some definations, it just means chivalrous, courteous, and/or honerable.

Answer 16

Before the barn door strutted the gallant wingspan, that pattern of a husband, a warrior and a fine gentleman, clapping his burnished wings and crowing in the pride and gladness of his heart; It's giving it human traits. barn doors don't clap or strut

Answer 17

Before actually means in front of in this excerpt.

Answer 18

....so what do you think I should do to find the answer

Answer 19

use your imagination! If we guess that this is talking about a rooster, what changes?

Answer 20

good point but it seems like it's using metaphor now that I'm looking at it again, but I could also be wrong

Answer 21

look up metaphore. Not it!

Answer 22

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable

Answer 23

yep. if it is a rooster, and I think it is, then clapping and calling out are both options.

Answer 24

So these things are applicable.