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Paradox
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
How to Tell a True War Story
Explanation and Analysis—The Place Talks:
In "How to Tell a True War Story," the narrator recounts Mitchell Sanders telling him a story about a six-man patrol that goes into the mountains on "a basic listening-post operation." The men hear a lot of eerie sounds on this mission, and Sanders claims that features of nature were talking. Because Sanders wants his listeners to truly believe that these non-human elements were making human sounds, the passage features a large mount of personification and anthropomorphism. This underlines the non-belonging and fear of American soldiers in Vietnam.
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Speaking of Courage
Explanation and Analysis—A Good Audience:
As Norman Bowker drives around his hometown in "Speaking of Courage," the narrator makes his surroundings come alive. O'Brien develops both the lake at the center of the town and the town itself through personification, underlining Bowker's alienation and loneliness after returning from the war.
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