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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Metaphor Examples Quiz: Identify Similes and Personification

Quick, free similes and metaphors quiz. Instant feedback and explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Lamaray GalanosUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art book and speech bubble on sky blue background for figurative language quiz on similes metaphors personification

Use this metaphor examples quiz to practice spotting similes, metaphors, and personification in short lines like "the curtain finally rose." If you want more, try our simile or metaphor quiz, build skills with a focused personification quiz, or check your knowledge in a quick metaphor quiz. Get instant feedback and simple tips after each question.

What type of figurative language is used in the phrase "The curtain finally rose" when describing the start of a performance?
Hyperbole
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
This phrase attributes the human action of 'rising' to an inanimate object - the curtain - making it an example of personification. Personification gives life-like qualities to non-human things. In this context, the curtain is described as if it consciously raises itself at the start. .
Which of the following is a simile?
Her smile was like sunshine.
Time is a thief.
The leaves danced in the wind.
Justice is blind.
Similes compare two things using 'like' or 'as'. Here, 'Her smile was like sunshine' directly compares a smile to sunshine. .
Which sentence best illustrates personification?
Her eyes were shining stars.
Life is a rollercoaster.
The wind whispered through the trees.
She ran faster than a cheetah.
Personification assigns human actions or feelings to non-human entities. In the phrase 'The wind whispered through the trees,' wind is described as if it can whisper - a human action. .
Which of the following is a metaphor?
The waves danced along the shore.
He is as sly as a fox.
Her eyes were shining stars.
Her voice was like music.
A metaphor directly states that one thing is another, creating a direct comparison. 'Her eyes were shining stars' equates eyes with shining stars without using 'like' or 'as'. .
Which sentence demonstrates personification?
He is as strong as an ox.
She sings like an angel.
Time is a cruel master.
The leaves danced in the wind.
Personification is present when non-human elements perform human actions. 'The leaves danced in the wind' gives leaves the human ability to dance. .
Which of the following is a simile?
The sun smiled down.
Her laughter was infectious.
He had a heart of stone.
The water was like glass.
A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as'. 'The water was like glass' uses 'like' to draw the comparison. .
Identify the metaphor in the following options.
The flowers nodded their heads.
Busy as a bee.
Time is a thief.
He is as brave as a lion.
'Time is a thief' is a classic metaphor since it equates time to a thief, highlighting how time can steal moments. .
Which sentence is a simile?
The thunder spoke to the hills.
The wind howled in anger.
He is as brave as a lion.
Her mind is a steel trap.
Similes explicitly compare two things using 'like' or 'as'. 'He is as brave as a lion' follows this structure. .
Which example best shows personification?
He runs like the wind.
Her eyes sparkled with joy.
Time is money.
The wind whispered secrets through the night.
This sentence gives the wind a human action - whispering - which it cannot literally perform. This is personification. .
Which sentence contains a simile?
The car engine roared with pride.
He is as cunning as a fox.
Life is a journey.
Her thoughts danced around her mind.
This sentence uses 'as' to compare someone's cunning to that of a fox, indicating a simile. .
What type of figurative language is used in "Her words pierced my heart"?
Personification
Simile
Hyperbole
Metaphor
This phrase uses metaphor by stating 'Her words pierced my heart' as if words can physically pierce, implying emotional impact. .
Which of the following is a simile?
He hides in the shadows.
He swims like a fish.
She has a heart of gold.
The clock stopped ticking.
A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to draw a comparison. 'He swims like a fish' directly compares swimming ability to a fish. .
Which sentence illustrates personification?
The alarm clock screamed at me.
The mountain was a giant.
He ran like the wind.
Her laughter was silver.
'The alarm clock screamed at me' attributes the human action of screaming to an inanimate object, making it personification. .
Identify the metaphor in this list.
Her smile was like sunshine.
Life is a journey.
The dog barked loudly.
He fought like a lion.
'Life is a journey' is a metaphor because it equates life directly to a journey, implying progress and obstacles. .
Which of these sentences contains a metaphor?
Silence is a thick blanket.
Her hair flowed like silk.
The stars winked at us.
He is as cold as ice.
This sentence states 'Silence is a thick blanket' equating silence to a blanket, thus forming a metaphor. .
Which sentence is a simile?
As busy as a bee.
Time devoured all things.
The wind howled through the trees.
Her eyes were windows to her soul.
'As busy as a bee' uses 'as' to compare someone's busy nature to that of a bee, making it a simile. .
Which example best demonstrates personification?
He complained like a child.
The stars danced playfully in the sky.
Her skin was as soft as velvet.
Life is a highway.
In 'The stars danced playfully in the sky,' the stars are given the human action of dancing, which they cannot actually perform. This indicates personification. .
What type of figurative language is used in "Education is the key to success"?
Simile
Hyperbole
Personification
Metaphor
'Education is the key to success' functions as a metaphor by equating education with a key that unlocks success. .
Which of these is a simile?
She had a heart of stone.
The garden awakened at sunrise.
Time is a harsh mistress.
His explanation was as clear as mud.
'His explanation was as clear as mud' uses 'as' to compare clarity to mud's opacity, making it a simile. .
Which sentence shows personification?
The sun peeked over the horizon.
He slept like a log.
She wore her heart on her sleeve.
The car raced down the road.
'The sun peeked over the horizon' attributes a human action - peeking - to the sun, making it personification. .
Which figurative device is exemplified by the phrase "The curtain finally rose"?
Metaphor
Personification
Simile
Hyperbole
'The curtain finally rose' assigns a deliberate action to an inanimate object, implying it performed the action itself. This is personification. .
Identify the metaphor in the following sentence: "His mind was a labyrinth of thoughts."
Idiom
Personification
Simile
Metaphor
'His mind was a labyrinth of thoughts' directly equates his mind to a labyrinth, creating a metaphor that emphasizes complexity. .
Which option is a simile?
The leaves danced.
Time is a thief.
Justice is blind.
Her voice was like molten gold.
'Her voice was like molten gold' compares the quality of her voice to molten gold using 'like', making it a simile. .
Which demonstrates personification?
The world is a stage.
She sings like an angel.
He was as brave as a knight.
Justice is blind.
'Justice is blind' gives justice, an abstract concept, the human characteristic of blindness, which is personification. .
Identify the metaphor: "Time is money."
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Personification
Simile
'Time is money' directly equates time with money, emphasizing its value. This is a classic metaphor. .
Which sentence is a simile?
The wind whispered.
She wore thoughts like armor.
Life is a journey.
He was as fearless as a lion.
'He was as fearless as a lion' uses 'as' to compare fearlessness to a lion's courage, making it a simile. .
Which sentence best shows personification?
She laughs like a bell.
He fought like a lion.
Time is a thief.
The fire swallowed the entire forest.
'The fire swallowed the entire forest' attributes a human action - swallowing - to fire, which it cannot literally perform. This is personification. .
Identify the metaphor: "Education is the key to success."
Alliteration
Simile
Personification
Metaphor
'Education is the key to success' directly equates education to a key, symbolizing access, making it a metaphor. .
Which of the following sentences contains a simile?
Her smile was like the first bloom of spring.
She has eyes of an eagle.
The mountain towered over us.
The night swallowed the sun.
'Her smile was like the first bloom of spring' uses 'like' to draw a vivid comparison, marking it as a simile. .
Which example best illustrates personification?
Time kills all wounds.
He is as fast as lightning.
Silence enveloped the room, a warm, comforting cloak.
She moves like a swan.
'Silence enveloped the room, a warm, comforting cloak' gives silence the human ability to envelop like a cloak, making it personification. .
Which sentence is a metaphor?
She sells seashells by the seashore.
The leaves danced in the wind.
Her determination was a roaring lion.
He ran like the wind.
'Her determination was a roaring lion' directly equates determination to a lion, making it a metaphor. There's no 'like' or 'as', so it isn't a simile. .
Which sentence contains both a simile and personification?
Her laughter is music to his ears.
The trees sighed as softly as old souls longing for rest.
His eyes glowed like embers.
The candle wept tears of wax.
'The trees sighed' is personification and 'as softly as old souls' is a simile. This combination distinguishes it from the other options. and .
Which sentence is an implied metaphor?
They fought like cats and dogs.
He barked orders at his team every morning.
His words twisted and turned in my mind.
She was a tower of strength.
'He barked orders' implies a comparison to a dog without directly stating it, making it an implied metaphor. There's no 'like' or 'as' to signal a simile, nor is it explicit. .
Identify the figurative language used in the excerpt: "The forest yawned awake as dawn painted its palette across the sky."
Metaphor
Personification
Simile
Hyperbole
In the excerpt, 'The forest yawned awake...' assigns the human action of yawning to the forest, which is personification. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Common Figurative Devices -

    After completing the quiz, learners will recognize similes, metaphors, and personification in texts, including spotting "the curtain finally rose."

  2. Differentiate Simile, Metaphor, and Personification -

    Users will distinguish how each device uniquely conveys meaning and mood within sentences.

  3. Analyze "The Curtain Finally Rose" Figurative Language -

    Learners will interpret how this phrase personifies events to create dramatic effect and deepen understanding.

  4. Apply Definitions to New Examples -

    Participants will use clear criteria to classify fresh instances of figurative language in literature or everyday writing.

  5. Sharpen Literary Interpretation Skills -

    Through targeted quiz questions, readers will enhance their ability to spot, explain, and appreciate figurative devices in various contexts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Personification Defined -

    Personification gives human traits to nonhuman things, as seen in "the curtain finally rose." According to Purdue OWL, this device breathes life into objects and settings, making your figurative language quiz more engaging and vivid.

  2. Similes vs. Metaphors -

    Similes use "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion"), while metaphors make direct comparisons (e.g., "time is a thief"). The Literary Devices site explains that mastering these differences helps you ace any simile metaphor personification quiz.

  3. Why "The Curtain Finally Rose" Works -

    "The curtain finally rose" is personification because curtains can't literally rise on their own. Cambridge University research shows that such examples create emotional resonance by attributing intention and agency to inanimate objects.

  4. Spotting Examples in Context -

    When you identify figurative language examples, look for unexpected actions by objects: a door that "creaks in protest" or a sky that "weeps." Merriam-Webster suggests underlining verbs linked to nonhuman subjects to train your eye for these subtle clues.

  5. Memory Trick: SMiLe & PAT -

    Use SMiLe (Simile Means "like" or "as") and PAT (Personification Attributes Traits) as quick mnemonics when you take a figurative language quiz. University memory studies confirm that simple acrostics improve recall under exam pressure.

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