From the given options, select the one which correctly identifies the figure of speech (poetic device) used in the expression -

Laughter holding both her sides

Personification

The correct answer is option 1: Personification

Personification is a figure of speech where non-human things are given human qualities or actions. In the expression “Laughter holding both her sides,” laughter—which is an abstract idea—is described as if it is a person who can hold her sides. This human action being attributed to an emotion or feeling (laughter) is a clear case of personification.

• Simile: Compares two different things using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Laughter was like a person holding her sides").

• Irony: Involves a contrast between expectation and reality, or between what is said and what is meant. There's no irony present here.

• Pun: A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings. There's no wordplay of this nature in the expression.