Exploring Personification in John Steinbeck's “Flight”

Understanding Personification in Literature

Personification is a literary device that gives human characteristics to non-human objects or entities. It is often used to create vivid imagery and evoke emotional responses in readers. In this excerpt from John Steinbeck's short story "Flight," we can identify several lines that contain personification.

Identifying Personification in “Flight”

The lines that contain personification in the excerpt are: - "The farm buildings huddled like the clinging aphids on the mountain skirts, crouched low to the ground as though the wind might blow them into the sea." - "Five-fingered ferns hung over the water and dropped spray from their fingertips." - "The high mountain wind coasted sighing through the pass and whistled on the edges of the big blocks of broken granite." - "A scar of green grass cut across the flat." - "And behind the flat another mountain rose, desolate with dead rocks and starving little black bushes." - "Gradually the sharp snaggled edge of the ridge stood out above them, rotten granite tortured and eaten by the winds of time." These lines demonstrate Steinbeck's masterful use of personification to bring the setting to life and convey a sense of foreboding and desolation.

Importance of Personification in “Flight”

By employing personification in his writing, Steinbeck is able to create a rich and evocative landscape that mirrors the emotional journey of the protagonist, Pepe. The personified elements in the excerpt serve to enhance the atmosphere of the story and deepen its themes of struggle, survival, and the passage of time. Overall, the use of personification in “Flight” adds depth and complexity to the narrative, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the world of the story and engage with its underlying messages and symbolism.

Which lines in this excerpt from “Flight” by John Steinbeck contain personification?

"The farm buildings huddled like the clinging aphids on the mountain skirts, crouched low to the ground as though the wind might blow them into the sea." This line is an example of personification.

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