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Motifs
Definition of Personification
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the... read full definition
Chapter 3, Part 1
Explanation and Analysis—Nightfall:
Night and nightfall are personified in a very negative way in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Chapter 3, Part 1 opens with a description of the "December dusk":
The swift December dusk had come tumbling clownishly after its dull day and, as he stared through the dull square of the window of the schoolroom, he felt his belly crave for its food [...] It would be a gloomy secret night.
Related Themes:
Chapter 3, Part 3
Explanation and Analysis—Stephen's Soul:
Throughout A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the narrator describes Stephen's soul as having human characteristics. For example, in Chapter 3, Part 3, he describes the "sickening" of Stephen's soul:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Who made it to be like that, a bestial part of the body able to understand bestially and desire bestially? Was that then he or an inhuman thing moved by a lower soul than his soul? His soul sickened at the thought of a torpid shaky life feeding itself out of the tender marrow of his life and fattening upon the slime of lust.
Related Themes:
Chapter 4, Part 3
Explanation and Analysis—Stephen's Soul:
Throughout A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the narrator describes Stephen's soul as having human characteristics. For example, in Chapter 3, Part 3, he describes the "sickening" of Stephen's soul:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Who made it to be like that, a bestial part of the body able to understand bestially and desire bestially? Was that then he or an inhuman thing moved by a lower soul than his soul? His soul sickened at the thought of a torpid shaky life feeding itself out of the tender marrow of his life and fattening upon the slime of lust.
Related Themes:
Chapter 5, Part 4
Explanation and Analysis—Nightfall:
Night and nightfall are personified in a very negative way in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Chapter 3, Part 1 opens with a description of the "December dusk":
Unlock with LitCharts A+The swift December dusk had come tumbling clownishly after its dull day and, as he stared through the dull square of the window of the schoolroom, he felt his belly crave for its food [...] It would be a gloomy secret night.
Related Themes:
