Identify the most dominant literary device. Provide an explanation of how that device functions in the sentence. (For example, s
pecify what two things are being compared in a metaphor, or what kind of imagery is being developed.) You may only identify a device once. 1. Wilson and I are different species: he’s an early bird and I am a night owl. The problem is if I move him to his own cage, who will I get to clean up the droppings? (Adapted from T.V.’s House.)
A metaphor is a literary device that is used for comparison. This means that when a comparison is made between two unrelated things and their meanings cannot be taken literally, it is a metaphor.
In the given dialogue of Dr. House, a metaphor is used when the comparison is made between them (House and Wilson) and birds. House compares them to <em>"an early bird . . .and a night owl."</em> This comparison is used in the metaphorical sense.
