Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow: -

It was a chilly evening in November when Arjun stood on the deserted platform of the old railway station. The clock read 10:15 PM, and the last train was expected soon. He had missed the earlier ones due to an unexpected delay at work. The platform was eerily quiet, the only sound being the distant hum of the city. A cold breeze swept through, making him pull his coat tighter.

Arjun felt physically and emotionally drained. His life had been consumed by work and responsibilities, leaving little time for reflection and joy. Recently, a personal setback had left him questioning his choices. He wondered; What was the point of all the struggles if they didn't lead to fulfillment? The train, in some way, symbolised an escape, a way to leave behind everything that weighted on him and start afresh.

As he stood there, the train's headlights appeared in the distance, cutting the mist like a beacon. The rumbling sound grew louder, and as it approached, Arjun's heart raced, unsure whether he was avoiding his reality. He stepped onto the train, the doors closing behind him with a soft hiss.

Lost in thought, he gazed out of the window at the passing landscape, a mix of darkness and scattered lights. The journey ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of possibility. Arjun realised that he wasn't running away; he was heading toward finding a chance to rediscover himself. Change wasn't the end-it was the beginning.

The literary device used in the expression -- 'the doors closing behind him with a soft hiss' is _______.

Onomatopoeia and Alliteration

The correct answer is Option (4) → Onomatopoeia and Alliteration

Let’s examine the expression:
"the doors closing behind him with a soft hiss."

• Onomatopoeia is a literary device where the word imitates the sound it represents.

• The word “hiss” imitates the sound made by the closing train doors — hence, it's a perfect example of onomatopoeia.

• . Alliteration ✅

• Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of nearby words.

• In the phrase: “behind him with a soft hiss”, we notice a repetition of the 'h' sound in "him" and "hiss" and the 's' sound in “soft” and “hiss”.

This subtle repetition gives the line a rhythmic and poetic quality, qualifying it as alliteration as well.

 Why other options are incorrect:

• Alliteration and Metaphor: There is no metaphor (no implied comparison) in the line.

• Transferred Epithet: This involves transferring an adjective meant for a person to an object (e.g., "sleepless night"). That does not apply here.

• Metaphor and Personification: No metaphor or personification is present in the expression — the door isn’t being given human qualities.

 Conclusion:

The phrase "the doors closing behind him with a soft hiss" uses Onomatopoeia ("hiss") and Alliteration ("soft hiss", "him", etc.), making
Option: Onomatopoeia and Alliteration the correct answer.