Final answer:
The figurative language "my ears pounded" uses personification to convey the intensity of sound or sensation, as it describes ears with human-like action, though they cannot literally pound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "my ears pounded" is an example of figurative language, specifically a form of metaphor known as personification. Typically, pounding is an action associated with a physical force or a beating heart, not with ears.
Therefore, describing ears in this way attributes human-like action to a non-human subject, which enhances the descriptive quality of the language and enables the reader to understand the intensity of sound or sensation the speaker might be experiencing.
Figurative language in literature serves to create vivid imagery and express complex ideas, emotions, or states of being in a more engaging and imaginative way. It allows writers to convey meanings indirectly and symbolically, which can be more impactful than literal language.