Test Your Figures of Speech Knowledge with This Quiz
Think you know your figure of speech examples? Start the quiz now!
This figures of speech quiz helps you spot metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, and hyperbole in clear examples with answers. Use it to prep for class, find weak spots, and polish your writing; if you want a quick warm‑up, try our short practice quiz , then reinforce skills with a practice worksheet .
Study Outcomes
- Identify Figures of Speech -
Recognize key figures of speech examples with answers, including metaphors, similes, personification, and hyperbole.
- Differentiate Literary Devices -
Distinguish between types of figures of speech by comparing their definitions and usage in context.
- Analyze Contextual Usage -
Examine how each figure of speech enhances meaning and tone within sentences and passages.
- Apply Knowledge in Quizzes -
Engage with this figures of speech quiz to test your understanding and reinforce correct identification under timed conditions.
- Enhance Language Mastery -
Build confidence in using and interpreting figures of speech, boosting both your analytical and creative writing skills.
Cheat Sheet
- Metaphor vs. Simile Mastery -
Metaphors state a direct comparison between two unlike things (e.g., "Time is a thief"), while similes use "like" or "as" ("Time is like a river"). To remember, use the S&S trick: "Simile Says 'See similarity'" and look for "like" or "as." According to Purdue University's Online Writing Lab, spotting these in figures of speech examples with answers sharpens your interpretive skills.
- Personification for Vivid Imagery -
Personification gives human qualities to inanimate objects or ideas, such as "The wind whispered through the trees." Ask yourself, "Could this nonhuman subject actually perform this action?" The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms notes that this device brings scenarios to life and boosts reader engagement in any figures of speech quiz.
- Hyperbole: Exaggeration with Impact -
Hyperbole is deliberate overstatement used for emphasis, like "I'm so hungry I could devour an entire ocean." Spot it by the scale: if the claim is wildly unrealistic, it's hyperbole. The British Council highlights that understanding this in figure of speech examples helps you distinguish fact from fancy.
- Onomatopoeia: Sound in Words -
Onomatopoeia uses words that mimic actual sounds - think "buzz," "clang," or "sizzle." A quick tip: say the word aloud and listen for the aural echo. Merriam-Webster confirms this device adds sensory depth, making it a favorite in both poetry and everyday figures of speech quizzes.
- Mnemonic for 9 Key Devices -
Memorize "Mighty Smart Poets Might Hate Odd Alliterations, Onomatopoeias, Understatements!" to recall Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Metonymy, Hyperbole, Oxymoron, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, and Understatement. Create flashcards with one device per card to quiz yourself with examples and answers. LiteraryDevices.net recommends active recall via mnemonics to lock in each type of figure of speech.