Use the lines from Spring Storm by William Carlos Williams to answer the question.

Question

"But water, water
from a thousand runnels!"

Which type of figurative language is used in these lines?

a. hyperbole

b. metaphor

c. personification

d. simile

Answer 1

The lines "But water, water from a thousand runnels!" from "Spring Storm" by William Carlos Williams primarily use hyperbole. This is because the phrase exaggerates the amount of water, emphasizing abundance through the idea of a thousand runnels. Therefore, the correct answer is:

a. hyperbole

Answer 2

Looking at the line "But water, water from a thousand runnels!", this is an example of hyperbole (option a). The poet uses deliberate exaggeration by referring to "a thousand runnels" to emphasize the abundance of flowing water. It's very unlikely there were literally a thousand small streams or channels - rather, this overstatement is used to create a vivid image and emphasize the overwhelming presence of flowing water in the scene.

This is not:
- A metaphor, as it's not making a comparison between unlike things
- Personification, as it's not giving human qualities to non-human things
- A simile, as it's not making a comparison using "like" or "as"

The hyperbole helps convey the dramatic nature of the spring storm and the intensity of the water's presence in the landscape.