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Difficulty: HardPersonification and Anthropomorphism

Read the following lines from W. H. Auden’s poem "As I Walked Out One Evening" (1937):

In the burrows of the Nightmare
Where Justice naked is,
Time watches from the shadow
And coughs when you would kiss.

In headaches and in worry
Vaguely life leaks away,
And Time will have his fancy
To-morrow or to-day.

In the passage, the personification of Time as an observer who 'watches from the shadow' and 'coughs when you would kiss' primarily serves to do which of the following?

  1. A
    suggest that the scene takes place in a dark alleyway where a physical bystander is coughing in the shadows
  2. B
    demonstrate that time is an abstract entity that possesses human-like agency and sensory perception
  3. characterize time as an intrusive, mocking observer that inevitably disrupts human intimacy and vulnerabilityAnswer
  4. D
    reflect the poet’s personal biographical regret over wasted opportunities in his own romantic relationships
  5. E
    emphasize the speaker’s optimistic belief that romantic love can ultimately transcend the constraints of physical time

Answer

characterize time as an intrusive, mocking observer that inevitably disrupts human intimacy and vulnerability
The option identifying Time as an intrusive, mocking observer is correct because the depiction of Time 'watching from the shadow' and 'coughing when you would kiss' presents time as an active, hostile presence that deliberately interferes with human attempts to find connection and romance. This matches the overall somber and cynical tone of the excerpt, where life 'leaks away' under Time's control.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Read the passage and identify the figurative language device being asked about (the personification of Time).
Identify that Time is given human qualities such as 'watching' and 'coughing'.
This establishes the subject of analysis.
2
Analyze the context of Time's actions—specifically, 'watching' from shadows and 'coughing' to interrupt a kiss.
Determine that these actions depict Time as an uninvited, mocking presence that actively interferes with human intimacy.
This links the device of personification to its immediate contextual effect.
3
Connect this personification to the overarching themes of the passage (loss of time, headaches, worry, and the inevitability of mortality).
See that the second stanza reinforces the idea that human life is diminished ('leaks away') under Time's control, supporting the depiction of Time as a hostile force rather than a neutral backdrop.
This ensures the analysis is grounded in the entire excerpt.
4
Evaluate the options to determine which one best captures the thematic effect of depicting time as an active, disruptive force in human intimacy.
Select the option that identifies Time as an intrusive, mocking observer.
This matches the contextual and thematic analysis of the poem's personification.

Key Concept

Analyzing the thematic function and effect of personification in poetry
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Personification and Anthropomorphism

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