Identify two figures of speech in the following lines and explain how they work. Then identify the type of verse line, the rhythm, and at least two types of rhyme or sound devices.

Question

". . . these our actors, are melted in to air, into thin air;

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,

The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,

And, like this insubstantial pageant faced, 

Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff

As dreams are made on, and our little life

is rounded with a sleep."

Answer 1

1. Figures of speech: This has a few interpretations, but the easiest type to spot is metaphor, which is saying that one thing IS something else. This can be explicitly stated ("We ARE such stuff as dreams are made of" implying that we ARE dreams) or implied ("like this insubstantial pageant faced" implying that life is a play). Or you could go with some classic imagery: "cloud-capped towers" which makes it sound like the castle is wearing a hat! Always fun.
2. For rhythm and rhyme, just use your ear! I can't find any constant rhythm in this one, but I test it by always saying the lines out loud and trying different emphases. And for the rhyming, is there any point where there are two adjacent sounds that are similar? (The answer could be no!)