From the given options, select the figure of speech (Poetic Device) used in the expression.

“The smiling young trees provided a strange comfort”

Personification

The figure of speech used in the expression "The smiling young tress provided a strange comfort" is : OPTION1 Personification

Here's why:

• Personification: This involves giving human qualities to non-human things. In this case, the expression attributes the human action of "smiling" to a tree, which is non-human.
• Metaphor: This directly compares two things without using words like "like" or "as." While there's an implicit comparison between the tree's presence and the feeling of comfort, it's not as explicit as a simile.
• Simile: This figure of speech uses words like "like" or "as" to make a comparison. The expression doesn't use such words, making simile unlikely.
• Oxymoron: This involves using contradictory terms together. There's no contradiction in the expression, so it's not an oxymoron.

Therefore, by attributing a human attribute (smiling) to the tree, the expression employs personification to figuratively portray the tree as a comforting presence.