This part of the pa**age utilizes the literary effect called a simile. A simile is defined as a comparison of two items in order to show how the first item is like the second. A key characteristic of a simile is that it utilizes an adverb such as "like" or "as" in order to function as a comparison. It serves to provide further description of an item.
Wheeler. "Literary Terms and Definitions." Literary Terms and Definitions. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015. .