Aunt Dessie unfolded out of the car like a carpenter’s ruler” is an example of

personification = giving human characteristics to inanimate objects

Define the other three, and let us know what you think.

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thank you :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simile

it is a SIMILE i'm 100% positive!!!!

The phrase "Aunt Dessie unfolded out of the car like a carpenter's ruler" is an example of a simile. To understand this, we need to break down the different options.

1. Personification: Personification gives human qualities or actions to non-human entities. However, in the given phrase, neither Aunt Dessie nor the car is being described as having human qualities or actions.

2. Symbol: A symbol is something that represents or stands for something else. In this phrase, there is no indication that any of the elements mentioned are symbolic of something beyond their literal meaning.

3. Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using "like" or "as." In this case, Aunt Dessie is being compared to a carpenter's ruler by using the word "like." The phrase is highlighting how Aunt Dessie unfolded from the car with a similar motion or appearance as a carpenter's ruler unfolding.

4. Metaphor: A metaphor directly states that one thing is another without using "like" or "as." Since the phrase in question utilizes the word "like" to establish a comparison, it is a simile rather than a metaphor.

Therefore, the correct answer is simile.