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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Test Your Figurative Language Skills!

Ready for a metaphors and similes quiz? Identify figurative language examples and dive in!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art book pages floating with speech bubbles pencils and clouds on sky blue background for figurative language quiz

Are you ready to sharpen your wit and unlock the secrets of vivid writing? Dive into our free figurative language quiz , crafted for curious wordsmiths, students, and lifelong learners alike. Challenge yourself with a dynamic metaphors and similes quiz, untangle clever personification quiz puzzles, and explore engaging literary devices trivia. Along the way you'll learn to confidently identify figurative language examples, boosting both your analytical and creative skills. Feeling competitive? Take on our ultimate simile challenge for an extra thrill. Let's play, learn, and ace those figures of speech - start now!

What is a simile?
A comparison using “like” or “as”
A figure of speech that describes something as if it were something else
A deliberate exaggeration for effect
Giving human traits to non-human objects
A simile directly compares two unlike things using “like” or “as.” It differs from a metaphor, which makes a comparison without those words. Recognizing that key word usage is how you spot similes. Learn more about similes.
What is a metaphor?
A comparison that states one thing is another without using “like” or “as”
A comparison using “like” or “as”
A deliberate exaggeration for emphasis
Attributing human qualities to non-human things
A metaphor makes a direct comparison between two things by saying one thing is another. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use “like” or “as.” This device creates strong imagery by equating two concepts. Read more about metaphors.
What is personification?
Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities
A comparison using “like” or “as”
A direct comparison that states one thing is another
An obvious exaggeration to emphasize a point
Personification gives human traits or behaviors to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. It makes descriptions more vivid by making non-human elements act like people. You’ll see this often in poetry and storytelling. Explore personification examples.
What is hyperbole?
A deliberate and obvious exaggeration for emphasis
A direct comparison without “like” or “as”
Attributing human actions to non-human things
A comparison using “like” or “as”
Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration used to create emphasis or effect. It’s not meant to be taken literally but to highlight the intensity of a feeling or situation. Hyperbole appears frequently in everyday speech. Learn more about hyperbole.
Identify the simile in the following sentence: “Her voice was smooth like silk.”
smooth like silk
Her voice
was smooth
silk
The phrase “smooth like silk” compares her voice to silk using “like,” which is the hallmark of a simile. This explicit comparison distinguishes similes from other devices. More on similes.
Identify the metaphor in this sentence: “The classroom was a zoo this afternoon.”
The classroom was a zoo
this afternoon
classroom
was
Calling the classroom a zoo equates the chaotic environment to an animal enclosure without using “like” or “as,” making it a metaphor. This creates vivid imagery of noise and disorder. Learn about metaphors.
Identify the personification in the sentence: “The sun peeked over the horizon.”
The sun peeked over the horizon
The sun
over the horizon
peeked
The sun cannot literally “peek,” which is a human action. Assigning this behavior to the sun is personification, making the description more dynamic and relatable. See examples of personification.
Identify the hyperbole in this sentence: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse
I’m so hungry
I could eat
a horse
This is an obvious exaggeration of hunger, not meant to be taken literally. Expressing excessive capability is classic hyperbole. Read more on hyperbole.
Which sentence contains a mixed metaphor?
“Let's iron out this issue before it blows up in our faces.”
“The moon danced across the night sky.”
“He roared with laughter.”
“She was as brave as a lion.”
This sentence blends two metaphors—ironing out problems and things blowing up—creating a mixed metaphor. Such mixes can jar the reader and are often unintentional. Mixed metaphor guide.
Identify the onomatopoeia in this sentence: “The bacon sizzled in the pan.”
sizzled
bacon
pan
in the
“Sizzled” imitates the sound bacon makes when cooked, making it an onomatopoeia. This device uses words that mimic real-world sounds. Learn about onomatopoeia.
Which phrase is an oxymoron?
silent roar
loud whisper
gentle breeze
bright shadow
An oxymoron pairs contradictory terms. “Silent roar” combines opposing ideas (silence vs. roaring), creating a striking effect. Oxymoron examples.
Which figurative devices are used in this sentence? “The thunder grumbled like an old man, and the wind whispered secrets through the night.”
Simile and personification
Personification and hyperbole
Metaphor and alliteration
Onomatopoeia and simile
“Grumbled” and “whispered” give human actions to non-human elements (personification), while “like an old man” is a simile. Recognizing multiple devices in one sentence requires detailed analysis. More on personification.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Metaphors and Similes -

    Pinpoint and distinguish metaphors and similes in sentences to strengthen your understanding of comparison-based figurative language.

  2. Analyze Personification and Hyperbole -

    Recognize how personification and hyperbole add emotion and emphasis to writing by evaluating clear examples.

  3. Distinguish Between Literary Devices -

    Differentiate among various literary devices, including similes, metaphors, personification, and more, with confidence.

  4. Apply Figurative Language Skills -

    Use correctly selected figurative expressions in your own writing to enhance imagery and style.

  5. Self-Assess with Instant Feedback -

    Receive immediate figurative language quiz results to identify strengths and areas for improvement in your knowledge of literary devices.

  6. Boost Your Writing Style -

    Incorporate creative literary devices like metaphors, similes, and personification to make your writing more engaging and vibrant.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Distinguishing Similes vs. Metaphors -

    Similes use "like" or "as" to compare two unlike things (e.g., "as brave as a lion"), while metaphors make direct comparisons without those words (e.g., "time is a thief"). According to Purdue OWL, recognizing the signal words "like" and "as" is key to acing a metaphors and similes quiz. Practice by converting similes into metaphors to sharpen your identify figurative language examples skills.

  2. Personification to Bring Text to Life -

    Personification attributes human qualities to non-human things (e.g., "the wind whispered"), making writing more vivid and engaging. The University of North Carolina's Writing Center highlights that spotting verbs paired with inanimate subjects is your clue in a personification quiz. Try drafting a short scene where objects "speak" to practice this lively literary devices trivia skill.

  3. Hyperbole for Dramatic Effect -

    Hyperbole uses purposeful exaggeration to emphasize a point (e.g., "I've told you a million times!"), and it's often tested in figurative language quizzes. Harvard's porter program notes that recognizing the absurdity of the claim can help you quickly identify hyperbolic statements. Create your own over-the-top sentence to internalize how hyperbole amplifies meaning.

  4. Onomatopoeia & Alliteration -

    Onomatopoeia imitates sounds (e.g., "buzz," "clang") while alliteration repeats initial consonant sounds (e.g., "Peter Piper picked"). The Merriam-Webster site suggests listening for sound cues in sentences to master these devices for your literary devices trivia rounds. Craft a mnemonic like "BANG, BOOM, BEEP" to remember onomatopoeia examples on the go.

  5. SMART Mnemonic for Figurative Types -

    Use the SMART trick - Simile, Metaphor, Alliteration, Repetition, Tone - to recall key figurative devices during a figurative language quiz. Educational research from the University of Michigan shows that acronyms significantly boost recall under timed conditions. Quiz yourself by writing one example of each device in under two minutes to lock in this memory hack.

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