Identify the literary device in :
Brutus: Peace ! Count the clock.
Cassius: The clock has stricken three.

Question

Accepted Answer

The literary device present in the given lines is **Anachronism**.

Here's why:

*   **Why Anachronism (Option 2) is Correct:** An anachronism is an error in chronology or timeline; specifically, something that is placed in the wrong time period. Mechanical clocks that strike the hour (like the one mentioned) did not exist in ancient Rome, the setting of Shakespeare's *Julius Caesar*. Their presence in the dialogue is therefore an anachronism, a detail inconsistent with the historical period. Shakespeare intentionally or unintentionally included this detail, making it an anachronistic element.

*   **Why the other options are incorrect:**

*   **Onomatopoeia (Option 1):** Onomatopoeia is the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g., *sizzle*, *buzz*). The given lines do not contain any words that imitate sounds.

*   **Analogy (Option 3):** An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. The lines do not present a comparison between two different things to explain a concept.

*   **Antithesis (Option 4):** Antithesis is a figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are the opposites of each other. The lines do not present contrasting ideas in parallel structure.