What literary device compares two unlike things using "like" or "as"?

The correct answer, which identifies the literary device that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as," is simile. A simile establishes a direct comparison between two different entities by explicitly using the words "like" or "as," thereby creating a vivid image or connection in the reader's mind. For instance, saying "as brave as a lion" clearly contrasts bravery using an easily relatable quality of a lion. This device is particularly effective in poetry and prose to evoke emotions and enhance descriptions by linking disparate objects or ideas through relatable comparisons.

In contrast, a metaphor directly equates one thing to another without using "like" or "as," which creates a stronger, more implicit connection. Personification attributes human characteristics to non-human things, thereby giving life-like qualities to objects or abstract concepts. Alliteration is a sound device that involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in a sentence or phrase, often used for musical effect or to enhance rhythm in writing. Each of these literary devices serves a unique purpose, but simile specifically focuses on making comparisons using explicit qualifiers, enhancing imagery and understanding in a way that can be immediately grasped by the audience.