Marissa flopped onto the raft and lay on her little island, warming her back in the sun.

which figure of speech, or literary device, does the author use in the sentence?

implied metaphor

simile

personification

allusion

The correct answer is implied metaphor , the latter is a literary device that is used to make a comparison between things that might be very different from each other. Moreover, the comparison usually makes use of imagery and it appeals to the senses, as a result, there is no explicit reference to the fact that a comparison is being made. Similies, for example, are comparisons that always involve the use of the words "like" or "as".

In the sentence provided in the question, we notice that Marissa's situation is being described in connection to her isolation and enjoyment of what she is living, this is according to the metaphor of the island that is described.

This is not a similie because the words "like" and "as" don't appear. It is not an allusion because allusions take us to compare a situation with someone or something that is very well-known; And finally, it is not personification beause there is no object with human attributes in this sentence,

when alex falls for the charming new boy at school, cole -- a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her - she can't believe she's finally found her soul who truly loves and understands her.  

at first, alex is blissfully happy. sure, cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her close friend zack, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all her time with another boy? as the months pass, though, alex can no longer ignore cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats.  

as alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose -- between her "true love" and herself.

explanation: