The line 'Swift autumn, like a bonfire of leaves' exemplifies which figure of speech?

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

Answer: (B)

Simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison using like or as. In the line, autumn is described as swift and is directly compared to a bonfire of leaves with the word like. This creates a vivid image of leaves glowing and moving as if they’re blazing, while still noting that autumn is being compared to a bonfire rather than literally becoming one. It isn’t a metaphor, which would state that autumn is a bonfire without using like; it isn’t primarily about repeated sounds (that would be alliteration) or about exaggerated heightening (that would be hyperbole). The key is the explicit comparison introduced by “like.”