Question

#4 \harlem\
does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
or fester like a sore—
and then run?
does it stink like rotten meat?
or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?

maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

or does it explode?
identify the poetic device used:
a. symbolism (go to #15)
b. metaphor (go to #3)
c. simile (go to #12)
d. personification (go to #6)

Explanation:

In the poem "Harlem", phrases like "like a raisin in the sun", "like a sore", "like rotten meat", "like a syrupy sweet", and "like a heavy load" use "like" to make comparisons, which is the definition of a simile. Symbolism involves representing ideas with symbols, metaphor makes direct comparisons without "like" or "as", and personification gives human traits to non - human things. So the poetic device here is simile.

Answer:

c. Simile (Go to #12)