Which sentence is an example of a metaphor?

Which sentence is an example of a metaphor?

• A. The city was a sleeping giant.
• B. The city slept.
• C. The city hummed with activity.
• D. The night was quiet.

Answer: (A)

Metaphor uses a direct comparison, saying one thing is another, to create a strong image. The sentence “The city was a sleeping giant” does exactly that by directly equating the city with a sleeping giant, implying power and potential without using like or as. That direct equivalence is what makes it a metaphor. The other sentences don’t make that kind of direct link. “The city slept” gives the city a human action, which is personification. “The city hummed with activity” also uses a human action to describe the city, another example of personification and vivid imagery rather than a straightforward comparison. “The night was quiet” is a plain, literal description with no figurative comparison.

Metaphor uses a direct comparison, saying one thing is another, to create a strong image. The sentence “The city was a sleeping giant” does exactly that by directly equating the city with a sleeping giant, implying power and potential without using like or as. That direct equivalence is what makes it a metaphor.

The other sentences don’t make that kind of direct link. “The city slept” gives the city a human action, which is personification. “The city hummed with activity” also uses a human action to describe the city, another example of personification and vivid imagery rather than a straightforward comparison. “The night was quiet” is a plain, literal description with no figurative comparison.