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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
Key Examples in The Daughters of the Late Colonel
Personification
Explanation and Analysis—Gentle Beams:
In this passage, the author uses personification to capture an important moment of introspection for Josephine toward the end of the story. As she drifts into a mixture of memory and daydream, Josephine observes that:
The sunlight pressed through the windows, thieved its way in, flashed its light over the furniture and the photographs. [...] The rest had been looking after father and at the same time keeping out of father's way. But now? But now? The thieving sun touched Josephine gently. She lifted her face. She was drawn over to the window by gentle beams.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Faded Mother:
Toward the end of the story, Mansfield uses visual imagery and personification to describe Josephine’s melancholy reflections on how absent her mother seemed in comparison to the Colonel. The sun coming through the window prowls around the house investigating its contents:
Unlock with LitCharts A+When it came to mother's photograph, the enlargement over the piano, it lingered as though puzzled to find so little remained of mother, except the ear-rings shaped like tiny pagodas and a black feather boa. Why did the photographs of dead people always fade so? wondered Josephine.
Related Themes:
