From the given options, select the correct figure of speech (poetic device) used in the following expression-
The cunning saint fooled the people
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Oxymoron
In "cunning saint", cunning means clever in a deceitful way, while a saint is holy and honest. The two qualities contradict each other, so the expression is an oxymoron.
| Option | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Metaphor | a direct comparison that calls one thing another, without "like" or "as". Nothing is being called something else here. Two opposite qualities are joined. | In the exam hall, my mind was a blank page. |
| (2) Simile | a comparison using "like" or "as". The expression has no comparison and no "like" or "as". | The baby's cheeks were as red as a rose. |
| (3) Alliteration | the repetition of the same first sound in words placed close together. "Cunning saint fooled" does not repeat a starting sound. | Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. |
| (4) Oxymoron (answer) | An oxymoron places two words of opposite meaning side by side to create a striking effect. | The deafening silence in the hall made everyone nervous. |