This question is based on General Literary Principles. 'Whether the nymph shall break Diana's law, Or some frail China jar receive a flaw; Or stain her hono...

This question is based on General Literary Principles.

'Whether the nymph shall break Diana's law, Or some frail China jar receive a flaw; Or stain her honour, or her new brocade;.

The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope

The figure of speech used here is

Answer Details

The figure of speech used in the given excerpt is zeugma. Zeugma is a rhetorical device in which a single word is used in different senses at different places in a sentence. In this excerpt, the word "Or" is used to connect multiple phrases in the sentence, and the word "break" and "receive" are both used with different meanings with "law" and "frail China jar," respectively. This creates a sense of economy in language and adds a layer of complexity and sophistication to the writing.