The preparations for the funeral hung like a pall over the house.

Is the phrase a simile or a metaphor, and why?

Simile: A simile is a comparison using like or as. However, a metaphor is a comparison not using like or as.

Final Answer:

The phrase in question is a simile because it uses 'like' to compare the funeral preparations to a pall, suggesting a heavy atmosphere of sorrow in the house.

Explanation: The phrase “The preparations for the funeral hung like a pall over the house” is an example of a simile, which is a figure of speech that compares two different things by using connecting words such as 'like' or 'as'. A simile explicitly shows similarity between two things for effect and to add meaning or evoke emotion in the reader. In this case, the use of 'like' indicates that the preparations for the funeral are being compared to a pall, which is a cloth that covers a coffin, suggesting that the atmosphere in the house is heavy with sadness and solemnity, akin to the somberness that a pall would symbolize.