What literary device is used in 'Like a man who has jumped up in the dark'?

What literary device is used in 'Like a man who has jumped up in the dark'?

• A. Simile
• B. Metaphor
• C. Alliteration
• D. Personification

Answer: (A)

The main device here is a simile: it uses the word like to draw a direct comparison. The phrase “Like a man who has jumped up in the dark” links the subject’s sudden action to the image of someone springing to their feet in darkness. Because it uses like, it signals a similarity rather than stating that the subject actually is that man, which would be a metaphor. It’s not about repeating sounds (that would be alliteration) or giving human qualities to a nonhuman thing (that would be personification). The effect is to convey a sense of abruptness and surprise, highlighting how quickly and unexpectedly the movement occurs.

The main device here is a simile: it uses the word like to draw a direct comparison. The phrase “Like a man who has jumped up in the dark” links the subject’s sudden action to the image of someone springing to their feet in darkness. Because it uses like, it signals a similarity rather than stating that the subject actually is that man, which would be a metaphor. It’s not about repeating sounds (that would be alliteration) or giving human qualities to a nonhuman thing (that would be personification). The effect is to convey a sense of abruptness and surprise, highlighting how quickly and unexpectedly the movement occurs.