Question

Select ALL the correct text in the passage.
Which three lines in this excerpt from Phillis Wheatley's poem "Goliath of Gath" contain examples of figurative language?
The hosts on two opposing mountains stood,
Thick as the foliage of the waving wood;
Between them an extensive valley lay,
O'er which the gleaming armour pour'd the day,
When from the camp of the Philistine foes,
Dreadful to view, a mighty warrior rose;
In the dire deeds of bleeding battle skill'd,

Answer 1

The lines from the excerpt that contain examples of figurative language are:

1. "Thick as the foliage of the waving wood;" - This line uses a simile to compare the hosts to the foliage, emphasizing their density.
2. "O'er which the gleaming armour pour'd the day," - This line employs personification, suggesting that the armor is so bright it can 'pour' light, which creates a vivid image.
3. "In the dire deeds of bleeding battle skill'd," - This line uses a metaphor, depicting the warrior’s skill in battle as being synonymous with bloodshed and violence.

So, the correct lines are:

- "Thick as the foliage of the waving wood;"
- "O'er which the gleaming armour pour'd the day,"
- "In the dire deeds of bleeding battle skill'd,"