Which literary device is apparent in Viola's speech to the captain in Twelfth Night?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Onomatopoeia
• C. Hyperbole
• D. Anastrophe

Answer: (A)

The situation hinges on metaphor: Viola frames her predicament through a direct, implicit comparison to a sea voyage. By describing her life and plans in terms of a journey—with ships, storms, winds, and the need to navigate to Illyria—she communicates mood, risk, and resolve without saying she’s “like” a ship or using literal statements. This figurative language lets readers feel her uncertainty and strategic thinking as she seeks protection, safety, and a new identity by disguising herself as Cesario.

This device matters here because it ties together her immediate need to reach the court with the larger themes of disguise, mobility, and survival that run through the play. Onomatopoeia would rely on sound words, which aren’t the feature of the speech. Hyperbole would involve exaggerated claims, which isn’t the primary function. Anastrophe would be a rearrangement of word order, not the central means of conveyance in this moment. Metaphor is the key tool helping us grasp her emotional state and strategic plan.