From the given options, select the correct figure of speech (poetic device) used in the following expression-

The cunning saint fooled the people

Oxymoron

The correct figure of speech used in the following expression "The cunning saint fooled the people" is oxymoron.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms are used together. In this case, the words "cunning" and "saint" are contradictory terms. A saint is typically thought of as being someone who is good and virtuous, while cunning is typically thought of as being someone who is sly and deceitful. The use of these two contradictory terms creates a sense of the saint's deceptiveness and the people's gullibility.

The other answer choices are incorrect. Metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another thing without using the words "like" or "as." Simile is a figure of speech in which two things are compared using the words "like" or "as." Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. None of these devices are used in the expression "The cunning saint fooled the people.".