From the given options, select the Figure of Speech (Poetic Device) used in the expression:

A ray of hope

Metaphor

The figure of speech used in the expression "A ray of hope" is metaphor.

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another thing without using the words "like" or "as". In this case, the speaker is comparing hope to a ray of light, suggesting that it is a small but bright spot in a difficult situation.

The other options are not as close in meaning to the figure of speech used in the expression:

• A simile is a figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another thing using the words "like" or "as".
• A pun is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used to create more than one meaning.
• An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory words or phrases are placed next to each other.