Which literary device is used to compare two unlike things?

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

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is a metaphor. A metaphor is a literary device that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as." This comparison helps to illustrate an idea or concept in a more vivid or imaginative way, allowing readers to understand the subject better by relating it to something seemingly unrelated. For example, saying "time is a thief" conveys the idea that time can steal moments from our lives in a more impactful way than stating it plainly.

In contrast, while similes also compare two unlike things, they do so by using "like" or "as," making them a less direct form of comparison. Alliteration involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words, which is more related to sound patterns than comparisons. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms (like "bittersweet") to create a unique meaning but does not function to compare two dissimilar entities in the same way a metaphor does.