Which figure of speech is used in the bolded lines in the following excerpt from this poem by Langston Hughes?

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

simile

metaphor

onomatopoeia

alliteration

1 answer

The figure of speech used in the bolded lines is metaphor. In this excerpt, life is compared to a "broken-winged bird" to illustrate the idea that without dreams, life is hindered and unable to reach its full potential.