What literary device involves comparing two things using "like" or "as"?

The correct answer is simile, which is a literary device that makes a comparison between two different things using the words "like" or "as." This comparison highlights similarities between the two subjects in a vivid way, helping to create a more relatable or striking image in the reader's mind. For example, saying someone runs "like the wind" or "as brave as a lion" brings forth a clear visual connection that enhances understanding and emotion in the description.

Metaphor, while similar in purpose, does not use "like" or "as" to make comparisons, instead stating that one thing is another, which can create a powerful but different effect. Hyperbole exaggerates for emphasis or effect rather than making direct comparisons, while imagery focuses on creating sensory experiences through descriptive language, rather than directly comparing two things. Each of these devices serves its unique role in literature, but the defining characteristic of simile is specifically the use of "like" or "as" in the comparisons.