Previous
Mood
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 Postmaster
Personification
Explanation and Analysis—Like the Earth’s Tears:
Near the end of the story, when the Postmaster is on his way home to Calcutta by boat, the narrator combines a simile and personification to describe the water around the man:
When he was on the boat and it had set sail, when the swollen flood-waters of the river started to heave like the Earth’s brimming tears, the postmaster felt a huge anguish: the image of a simple young village-girl’s grief-stricken face seemed to speak a great inarticulate universal sorrow.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Earth's Breath:
As the Postmaster is settling into his life in rural Ulapur, the narrator describes the climate of the town using imagery and personification:
Unlock with LitCharts A+It was a fine afternoon in the rainy season. The breeze was softly warm; there was a smell of sunshine on wet grass and leaves. Earth’s breath—hot with fatigue—seemed to brush against the skin.
Related Themes:
