Analysing poems in GAMSAT: Literary Terms Part I (Personification)

In this series on how to analyse poems in GAMSAT Section I with the help of literary terms, we will be discussing each of the basic literary terms in detail. The first term we shall discuss is personification. And before you run away thinking it is going to be a boring lecture on literature, think again. You will be surprised to know the ways in which personification gets your attention each time you see an Oreo cookie ad or watch your favourite cartoon show, The Simpsons. It is a commonly used figure of speech not just in literature, but also other more common domains.

First let us see how the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary describes it: “attribution of personal qualities; especially: representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form” is known as personification. In simpler terms, personification is giving human traits (qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics) to something that is non-living (objects, colours, qualities, or ideas). “Icy winds are yelling” is an example of personification. Winds cannot yell, only humans can. You may have heard the popular Madonna single, “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. We all know that diamonds cannot replace a dear friend. You cannot take diamonds to go shopping with you. But it is the plague of the modern times we live in where women prefer a few glittering rocks to even men!

Let us review a few more examples for you to understand the use of personification in the poems that come for GAMSAT. If you have read Ralph Ellison’s fascinating book on racism, you are bound to remember the line from the book: “He’s invisible, a walking personification of the Negative”. It is a brilliant example of personification. Here, a single man is the embodiment of all the racial discrimination his creed has had to suffer. His existence is of such poor worth in the eyes of the society in which he thrives, that the author can simply term him: invisible. He is “invisible” to the eyes that look upon him and sometimes even to the eyes that look in the mirror.

Read the following poem and make a note of the personifications made. Do this with every poem you read while solving the GAMSAT Sample Papers.

“The wind stood up and gave a shout.
He whistled on his fingers and

Kicked the withered leaves about
And thumped the branches with his hand

And said he’d kill and kill and kill,
And so he will and so he will.”

(James Stephens, “The Wind”)

Personification is used to effective advantage not just by poets and novelists but also commonly and more popularly by editorial cartoonists and the entertainment industry. England and the U.S. are often addressed using their more popular nicknames: John Bull and Uncle Sam, respectively. Personifications of their respective nations came into popular use during the 19th century. A few more illustrations include the cookie ad which says:  “Oreo: Milk’s favourite cookie” and the Chevrolet automobiles advertisement – “The road isn’t built that can make it breathe hard!”

Hope this article on personification has enlightened you well enough on the topic. The next time you read a poem in a GAMSAT Test Paper, scan it to find the personifications the poet has made.