0

I am doing an English assignment where I have to identify the language techniques used in a feature article.

I am confused as to what technique is used in "She is pure guts and steel."

I first thought it is an idiom or a phrase but I'm not sure if that's correct

Improve this question
2
  • It's a little unclear to me what you're asking for. Are you asked to identify rhetorical or literary devices? I would call guts and steel an example of metonymy.
    – choster
    Commented Mar 8, 2016 at 7:01
  • I am asking what literary device would 'pure guts and steel' be. Other techniques I have identified in the texts are personal pronouns, exaggeration, intensifying words etc.
    – Caitlynisdunwithyou
    Commented Mar 8, 2016 at 7:06

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

It's a sentence, not a phrase, but I don't think that is the answer your teacher is looking for.

"Guts" -- which literally means "intestines" but is used to mean courage -- is an idiom, as you suspected, or more exactly a figure of speech.

"Pure guts" is hyperbole, an exaggeration for rhetorical effect.

"Steel" is a metaphor ("the use of a word or phrase to refer to something that it is not, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described").

Perhaps the technique referred to is one of these.

Improve this answer
1
  • OK so i am going to say something like 'and a mixture of exaggeration and metaphors such as ‘pure guts and steel’ I'll see if that works for my teacher! Thank you @Malvolio for clarifying that
    – Caitlynisdunwithyou
    Commented Mar 8, 2016 at 8:52
0

The whole sentence is a metaphor, she is not literally comprised of these things, but figuratively has the properties of these them.

It's often confused with smilie, where a comparison is made between something and something else; e.g. "Enraged, he roared like a lion and pounced like one, too."

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.