Writing Creatively III: Personification

Imagine an inanimate object. If you were to breathe life into it and make it act like a human, what would be the effect?

Let's take a look at the following image and imagine that the candle has a life of its own.

Now, I shall describe the candle by personifying it.

The white candle, anchored in an ancient decorative candle-stand, stood tall, proudly allowing its dark wick to flicker into a yellowish flame which dimly illuminated the narrow interior with its radiant smile.

The candle is given human characteristics here for it is referred to as being `proud' and having the capacity to `allow' light to shine in the room. Again, the candle is said to `smile'. We all know a candle cannot do these; however, by giving the candle these human characteristics, the reader is able to visualise a candle that is straight.  Moreover, in `smilingly' lighting up the room, there is a sense of the light providing a comfortable, pleasant effect on the room.

Personification is not used just for the sake of being creative or imaginative. Rather, it has the effect of creating a mood while providing a graphic description. Now, revert back to Wordsworth's poem (reproduced below). For the full effect, get someone to read while you sit back with your eyes closed and you try to visualise the descriptions.

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud 

by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;

A poet could not be but gay,

In such a jocund company!

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

My version of the effects of personification in the above poem will be given in The Pear Tree Centre for Education website on Friday, 1st May.