Which of the following is not a figure of speech used in J.P. Clark's poem "Ibadan" as referenced in the novel?

Answer Details

J.P. Clark's poem Ibadan is a compact, vivid depiction of the city. The poem reads: "Ibadan, / running splash of rust / and gold - flung and scattered / among seven hills like broken / china in the sun." To answer this question, each literary device must be checked against the actual text.

Metaphor is present. The city of Ibadan is described as a "running splash of rust and gold." This is a direct comparison that equates the city with a splash of colour, without using "like" or "as."

Simile is present. The phrase "like broken china in the sun" explicitly compares the scattered buildings of Ibadan to pieces of broken china, using the word "like."

Imagery is present throughout. The poem creates strong visual pictures through words such as "rust," "gold," "seven hills," "broken china," and "sun," appealing directly to the reader's sense of sight.

Onomatopoeia is not present. Onomatopoeia occurs when a word imitates a natural sound (e.g., "buzz," "crash," "hiss"). Although the word "splash" has onomatopoeic origins, in this poem it is used as a metaphor for the spread of colour across the landscape, not to represent an actual sound. No word in the poem functions as onomatopoeia.

Since the question asks which device is not used in the poem, the correct answer is onomatopoeia.