key term - Personification

Definition

Personification is a literary device where human qualities and characteristics are attributed to non-human entities or abstract concepts. This technique helps to create vivid imagery, evoke emotions, and deepen readers' understanding by allowing them to relate to the non-human subjects on a personal level. It plays a crucial role in enhancing themes and meanings in various literary works.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In American Gothic literature, personification often enhances the eerie and supernatural atmosphere, as natural elements like the wind or trees are described with human-like intentions or emotions.
2. Emily Dickinson frequently uses personification in her poetry to explore themes of nature, death, and immortality, giving life to abstract ideas and making them relatable.
3. Walt Whitman employs personification as a means to connect the human experience with the broader universe, often depicting nature and the cosmos as active participants in human life.
4. Personification can intensify emotional responses in readers by creating relatable connections between them and abstract concepts like love, time, or death.
5. In both Dickinson's and Whitman's work, personification allows for a richer exploration of themes such as individuality and the interconnectedness of humanity with the world.

Review Questions

• How does personification enhance the themes present in American Gothic literature?
  • Personification enhances themes in American Gothic literature by attributing human emotions and intentions to elements of nature or the supernatural. For example, a storm might be described as 'angry' or a house could be portrayed as 'watching' its inhabitants. This technique creates an unsettling atmosphere that mirrors the internal struggles of characters, emphasizing feelings of dread or isolation.
• Analyze how Emily Dickinson's use of personification contributes to her exploration of themes such as mortality and nature.
  • Emily Dickinson's use of personification significantly deepens her exploration of mortality and nature. By giving human traits to death or natural elements, she allows readers to engage with these themes on an emotional level. For instance, describing death as a 'gentle visitor' transforms it from a fearsome concept into something more intimate, encouraging readers to reflect on their own relationships with these inevitable aspects of life.
• Evaluate the role of personification in creating connections between humanity and the universe in Walt Whitman's poetry.
  • In Walt Whitman's poetry, personification plays a vital role in establishing connections between humanity and the universe. By depicting nature and celestial bodies as sentient beings that respond to human experiences, Whitman fosters a sense of unity and belonging. This approach allows readers to see themselves as part of a larger cosmic tapestry, reinforcing his themes of individuality while celebrating our shared existence within the universe.

Related terms

Anthropomorphism: A literary technique where animals or inanimate objects are given human traits and behaviors, often seen in fables and children's literature.

Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes an implicit comparison between two unrelated things, suggesting they are alike in some way without using 'like' or 'as'.

Imagery:

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates mental images, helping to convey emotions and atmospheres within a text.