Effect and Importance of Personification in Literature

Effect and Importance of Personification in Literature

Personification is an imperative figure of speech and by applying this literary tool, the ideas, animals and objects get human qualities. In brief, the objects as well as the ideas and other things are personified and hence, the readers easily get a connection with the things which are described. The use of personification in the literature has great impact as it showcases a non-human entity more vivid and lively, along with a human attribute. The main objective of using this device is to grab the readers? attention as well as their emotional support and make the entire write up prominent and remarkable. In short, it boosts the reader?s emotion and sensitivity.

Image for postPersonification

Some common examples of Personification:Time and tide wait for none.The chill wind whispered in my ear.The fire swallowed the entire building.The dog danced with full enthusiasm.

Here, the objects, including time, tide and wind are expressed in such a manner that can easily relate to the readers? emotion.

Though personification is signified as a decorative device, but it adds a deeper meaning in the writing. It includes a vividness as well as a gleam that can attract the readers and also allow them to remember the text for a long time. Writers and poets prefer to add this literary device in their work to describe an inanimate thing as a living entity and to make its action and nature clearer. Readers can easily understand the human trait and hence, the non-living entities are described as a human being and this technique is referred as personification.

However, the use of personification in English literature is noticeably available.

?Paul Revere?s Ride? is a nice poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and here, the use of personification is noteworthy.

?And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare,Gaze at him with a spectral glareAs if they already stood aghastAt the bloody work they would look upon.?Here, the windows are personified and make the entire writing more real.

Another poem named ?There?s a certain slant of light? written by Emily Dickinson comprise significant examples of personification.

?When it comes, the landscape listens,Shadows hold their breath,?Here, landscape and shadows get the human qualities and make these lines conspicuous.

?Romeo and Juliet? written by Shakespeare contains the examples of personification.

?When well-appareled April on the heelOf limping winter treads.?Here, the month of April and the winter season get the human qualities.

On the other hand, ?How Pearl Button Was Kidnapped? is a short story written by Katherine Mansfield and here, wind is personified and it gets the human quality of the little children.

17