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Personification Workshop
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Personification Workshop |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap 
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Alrighty then, my fellow students of poetry, let's get this little party started, shall we? A few days ago, the Great and Powerful Nan (hehehe) mentioned to me that she and Ron had planned to have guest hosts for some of the poetry workshops, and asked if I would like to do one. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I said sure, that I'd love the opportunity to torture my fellow poets – my first thought, of course, was to do the double sestinas, as I seem to be entangled in some sort of sordid love affair with the things (thanks a LOT, Jim!)  But Nan pointed out that with that topic, I'd have fewer students than I do coherent thoughts, and needless to say that wouldn't do.So ... I tried to think of something to do that was 1) interesting, and that 2) I was relatively proficient with. After careful consideration, I decided that there was no such animal -- so I settled on the literary device "personification" as my topic. Those of you who are familiar with this device and that have read any of my poetry know that I use it more often than not; for those of you who don't, I will briefly explain the idea behind it (which is thankfully quite simple), and then will give some examples for illustration. If you have any further questions after you've read this, please either post them here or feel free to email me, as you wish. OK, this is the dictionary part: personification: n The figurative endowment of inanimate objects or qualities with personality of human attributes, especially as a literary device; alternatively, the representation of an abstract quality or idea by a human figure. What all of that said, in a roundabout and wordiferous way, is that you take something that isn't human, and make it seem human. You can do this in several ways, many of which involve or build upon other literary devices such as metaphor and simile. But rather than try to explain it, I intend to demonstrate it. All of the following examples come from my own poetry; not because I think they are exemplary illustrations of personification, but because I'm too lazy to go looking for really good and/or famous ones ... LOL. First, a few instances in which love is personified (my favorite) From "Duality": "The lilt of love's disarming melody A gentle cadence to her artless grace; Mysterious in its simplicity, The sensual perfection of her face. " This portion personifies love as a woman, describing both her face and the lilt of her voice. Obviously, love in truth possesses neither of those things, but it is presented here in a way that allows an intangible (love) to take on tangible qualities. This makes the abstract "love" seem more real, or at least more understandable, to the reader. Still on the topic of personifying love, from "Battlefield": "Ah Love! Resplendent Valkyrie, Aloft on wings of gold ..." Here, love is described not as a person per se, but as a mythological creature which has a more or less human appearance. While some sticklers might say that this is stretching the rules a bit, I maintain that it still counts so long as you remain in the humanoid scope. Getting away from love for a moment (sigh), you can also personify other things (translation: just about anything): "The sun descends in veils of gold and red As though she bled her life into the sky ..." "Uncaring Winter curled His fingers ‘round my heart ..." "What heart entreats, I fear I cannot be, Nor speak the words that hope demands to hear ..." I could go on and on (and often do), but at this point I think I'll lay off the examples and see if you, fellow poets, can find me some of your own.  The most important thing to consider when employing any literary device is deciding how to use it effectively for the purpose that you intend. The last example cited above comes from the poem "Emperiled Heart," which focused not on personification of anything but on the cruelty of love (hehe there I go again). Thus, the two lines mentioned above were the only use of personification in the poem – no effort was made to develop that particular image. On the other hand, it is often effective to develop an instance of personification more extensively, lending myriad layers to the object being personified. For example, rather than simply saying "Uncaring Winter curled/His fingers ‘round my heart" you might further explore that human quality by describing other aspects: "Uncaring Winter curled his frigid hands And bleak regard, with eyes of icy blue, Around the trembling trophy of my heart, As though prepared to sunder it in two. But as I watched, he pursed his ravaged lips, And placed a gentle kiss upon my chest – That now, an icy river fills my veins Indifferent heart beats frozen in my breast ..." Here, Winter was ascribed not only a human form, but also a distinct personality – so in this case, "Winter" as a person is more three-dimensional than the "entreating heart" or "demanding hope" in the previous example. Additionally, he is more fleshed out, so to speak, than he was in the two-line quote from the poem. OK – this thing is getting too long now – any questions/comments, before we begin? You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
Kess ! LOL ! Nan said this would be "easy" ! ARGH ! If you don't mind me using "simple" English, I'm willing to try. ; ) Any other "rules" here ? Like; meter, syllables and whatever else you can come up with ? ; ) |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
Munda: Welcome back hun ... Good news -- there are absolutely no rules as far as rhyme and/or meter, since the mechanics of the poem are not the focus of this workshop ... what I want to concentrate on here is how to construct an effective instance of personification in poetic form. In other words, I want you to do what I did in the examples above, but I want you to do it to your own beat and within your own structure. So take a deep breath and smile! --Kess |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
I think I have a poem or two where I have utilized it but I think I'd like to do one that is more 'fleshed out' as you say! I'll see what I can come up with! Sounds like it might be fun! (now where did I put those spare 10 hours at....I just saw them a minute ago.....)LOL< !signature--> Denise And slight is the sting of his trouble Whose winnings are less than his worth; For he who is honest is noble, Whatever his fortunes or birth.~~~Alice Cary, ~Nobility~ [This message has been edited by dsnyder (edited 01-15-2000).] |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
This is something I have not tried but sounds like I should learn. I think I'll give it a try but if I flunk out of this class, I hope I will be allowed in futute ones. BTW, thanks for not picking the double sestina. Pete |
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Lucie Senior Member
since 1999-06-20
Posts 1077Houston |
Geesh Kess... I think I enjoyed the explaination more then I ever will writing the poem..haha.. |
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