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Difficulty: MediumLiterary Devices and Figurative Language

In the short story "Luvina" by Mexican author Juan Rulfo, the narrator describes the persistent wind that dominates the desolate mountain village:

"You cannot see the wind that blows there, but it is always present, scratching at the stone walls like a beast with claws, tearing up the dry earth and filling the silence with an unending moan."

Which of the following best analyzes the primary literary device used in this passage and its thematic function?

  1. A
    Hyperbole, to chronicle the physical destruction caused by an actual predatory animal prowling through the town
  2. Personification, to portray the natural climate as an aggressive, menacing presence that torments the settlementAnswer
  3. C
    Antithesis, to create a cheerful contrast between the peaceful silence of the village and the turbulence of nature
  4. D
    Dramatic irony, to reveal that the narrator suffers from delusions and cannot provide an accurate account of the weather

Answer

Personification, to portray the natural climate as an aggressive, menacing presence that torments the settlement
The correct answer accurately identifies personification and explains its thematic function. By endowing the wind with the predatory physical actions of a beast ('scratching at the stone walls') and an emotive vocal expression ('unending moan'), the passage presents the natural landscape not as passive backdrop, but as an aggressive, relentless force that deepens the isolation and despair of the setting.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary figurative language employed in the excerpt
The text endows the inanimate wind with living, animalistic behaviors such as 'scratching at the stone walls like a beast with claws' and emitting an 'unending moan', which constitutes personification (zoomorphism).
Recognizing the attribution of animate actions and sounds to an elemental force is the essential first step in device analysis.
2
Examine the thematic purpose of this device within the narrative context
By characterizing the wind as a predatory, vocal creature, the author conveys the inhospitable and oppressive nature of the setting, emphasizing how the environment actively wears down the inhabitants.
Standard literary analysis requires connecting the identified rhetorical technique to its broader impact on atmosphere, setting, and theme.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to identify the correct device and functional explanation while rejecting misconceptions
The option identifying personification as a means to portray nature as a menacing, tormenting presence matches both the device and its contextual function.
Eliminating literal readings, misidentified tones, and unfounded claims of narrative delusion isolates the correct interpretation.

Key Concept

Identifying personification and analyzing its functional role in establishing atmosphere and thematic conflict in literary prose
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Literary Devices and Figurative Language

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