Identify examples of alliteration and metaphor in the extract given below.
Khetaram’s khaki turban and uniform are his only protection against the desert’s furies, the scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms which turn him into a walking sandman.
In the given extract, an example of alliteration is the repetition of the consonant 'k' sound in "Khetaram’s khaki" and the 's' sound in "scorching summer" or "swirling sandstorms". This repetition emphasizes the harsh, rhythmic nature of the desert elements.
An example of a metaphor is "desert’s furies", which directly compares the violent desert storms to angry, destructive spirits. Another metaphor is "walking sandman", comparing Khetaram, who is entirely covered in sand from the storms, to a figure made of sand. These figures of speech highlight the severity of the desert environment.
Explanation
The question requires identifying literary devices from the specific extract provided in the context. Alliteration is identified by the repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely placed words ('k' in Khetaram's khaki; 's' in scorching summer/swirling sandstorms). Metaphor is identified by recognizing direct comparisons where a term is applied to something it is not literally applicable to, comparing the desert's harsh weather to angry spirits ('desert's furies') and comparing the sand-covered postman to a sand figure ('walking sandman').
Solution Steps
Step 1: Scan the extract for words starting with the same consonant sounds to identify alliteration (Khetaram's khaki, scorching summer, swirling sandstorms).
Step 2: Scan the extract for implied or direct comparisons that do not use 'like' or 'as' to identify metaphors (desert's furies, walking sandman).
Step 3: Formulate the final answer stating the identified examples and briefly explaining the comparison or effect.