By comparing two dissimilar objects, similes and metaphors can draw attention to the things they have in common, thereby creating a more evocative image. For example, the simile "she was as light as a feather" uses the words "like" or "as." "Life is a journey" is an example of a metaphor that uses "is" or "are."
Hyperbole is a form of dramatic exaggeration used as figurative language. It is intended to provoke a humorous response by describing something in impossible or unrealistic terms. For example, "My knapsack weighs a ton."
Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human characteristics to an animal or object. In doing so, personification is intended to better describe the animal or object in question. For example, saying that tree leaves "dance" in the wind gives leaves human attributes that evoke mental images of choreographed movement.