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Question

Difficulty: MediumAnalysis of Figures of Speech and Literary Devices in Unseen Poetry

Consider the poetic stanza below:

"The cruel sun beat down upon the weary land,
Mocking the thirsty soil that prayed for rain,
While shadows crawled across the burning sand,
To hide themselves from afternoon's sharp pain."

Which figure of speech is primarily deployed in the phrase "the thirsty soil that prayed for rain"?

  1. PersonificationAnswer
  2. B
    Simile
  3. C
    Apostrophe
  4. D
    Paradox

Answer

Personification
The phrase 'the thirsty soil that prayed for rain' endows an inanimate physical entity (soil) with human physical sensations ('thirsty') and spiritual actions ('prayed'). The attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities is the precise definition of personification.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the targeted line from the stanza
The phrase 'the thirsty soil that prayed for rain' attributes human desires ('thirsty') and human actions ('prayed') to 'soil'.
Determining the relationship between the subject and the verbs/adjectives used identifies the figurative device.
2
Match the observed attributes to the definition of literary terms
Giving human agency, feelings, or behaviors to inanimate non-human objects is defined as personification.
Confirming the exact definition ensures accurate classification under standard literary analysis.

Key Concept

Identification of Personification in Unseen Poetry
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Analysis of Figures of Speech and Literary Devices in Unseen Poetry

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