what is the effect of personification used in paragraph?
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/terms/2terms.html#Personification
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_P.html
"PERSONIFICATION: A trope in which abstractions, animals, ideas, and inanimate objects are given human character, traits, abilities, or reactions. Personification is particularly common in poetry, but it appears in nearly all types of artful writing. Examples include Keat's treatment of the vase in "Ode on a Grecian Urn," in which the urn is treated as a "sylvan historian, who canst thus express / A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme," or Sylvia Plath's "The Moon and the Yew Tree," in which the moon "is a face in its own right, / White as a knuckle and terribly upset. / It drags the sea after it like a dark crime." When discussing the ways that animistic religions personify natural forces with human qualities, scientists refer to this process as "anthropomorphizing," sometimes with derogatory overtones. A special sub-type of personification is prosopopoeia, in which an inanimate object is given the ability of human speech."
Sometimes personification is used to help humans understand a mood or topic more clearly. Sometimes it is used positively; sometimes, negatively. It all depends on the author's intent.
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In my thinking, it is a way a writer can give life and motion to an inanimate object, or to an animal. Keats spoke of an Urn in a famous poem as an "unravished bride of quietness."
Another example...the table held its burden without tiring, without fatigue, without complaint.
Thanks ! bobpursley and Writeacher
The effect of personification in a paragraph can vary depending on the author's intent, but generally, it brings life and motion to inanimate objects or animals, making them more relatable and understandable for the reader. By attributing human characteristics or reactions to these entities, the author creates a stronger connection between the reader and the subject being personified.
In the example given, Keats uses personification in his poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" to portray the urn as a "sylvan historian" capable of expressing a "flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme." This personification helps the reader visualize the urn as not just an object but as an active storyteller, enhancing the reader's understanding of the urn's significance and impact.
Similarly, in the second example provided, the personification of the table as holding its burden "without tiring, without fatigue, without complaint" creates a sense of reliability and endurance. By attributing human qualities to the table, the author emphasizes its strength and stability, making it easier for the reader to visualize and appreciate its role.
Overall, personification is a powerful literary device that adds depth, meaning, and emotional resonance to the text. It helps the reader connect with the subject matter on a more personal and relatable level, enhancing their understanding and emotional response to the writing.