THE SOLITARY REAPER

BEHOLD her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself:
Stop here, or gently pass!

Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain:
O' listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt.
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Choose the most appropriate option :
In the poem, the girl's voice has been compared with that of a Cuckoo-bird.

Identify the figure of speech, from the options given below.

Metaphor

The figure of speech used in the statement "In the poem, the girl's voice has been compared with that of a Cuckoo-bird" is:

Option 3: Metaphor

• A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. It involves making a direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as."

• In the poem "The Solitary Reaper," the poet describes the girl's voice by comparing it to that of a Cuckoo-bird. This comparison is not meant to be taken literally; instead, it conveys a sense of the quality or character of the girl's voice.

• The poet is suggesting that the girl's voice is similar to the melodious and welcoming notes of a Cuckoo-bird. This comparison helps create a vivid and evocative image, allowing readers to imagine the beauty and impact of the girl's singing.

So, in this context, the statement uses a metaphor to enhance the poetic description of the girl's voice by likening it to the delightful sound of a Cuckoo-bird.