Personification
Examples
Page 16
The sycamore leaves whispered in a little night breeze.
This is meant to show that the forest is at peace again, like the simile from page 2.
Page 21
The boss pointed a playful finger at Lennie.
The finger is described as 'playful' to show that it's moving around, signifying that the boss is unsure of what to think about Lennie.
Page 23
When the sound of his footsteps had died away, George turned on Lennie.
'The footsteps died away' is more expressive than simply saying 'the footsteps disappeared', and this phrase is emphasizing the fact that George wants to be absolutely sure no one hears him talking to Lennie. He doesn't want people to know how dumb Lennie is.
Page 38
Instantly the table was brilliant with light, and the cone of the shade threw its brightness straight downward, leaving the corners of the bunk house still in dusk.
Saying that the light was 'thrown' downward shows that even though the bunk house 'has' light, it still is an unpleasant place to live.
Page 99
Already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gabilan mountains, and the hilltops were rosy in the sun.
This description is actually pretty, considering that Lennie recently killed Curley's Wife. It points out the fact that even though tragedy struck at the ranch, life is still going on. It seems to lend itself to the theme of 'the American Dream is unobtainable', in that dreams are being crushed every day, but the world is still the same, and in the end everybody essentially loses.
The sycamore leaves whispered in a little night breeze.
This is meant to show that the forest is at peace again, like the simile from page 2.
Page 21
The boss pointed a playful finger at Lennie.
The finger is described as 'playful' to show that it's moving around, signifying that the boss is unsure of what to think about Lennie.
Page 23
When the sound of his footsteps had died away, George turned on Lennie.
'The footsteps died away' is more expressive than simply saying 'the footsteps disappeared', and this phrase is emphasizing the fact that George wants to be absolutely sure no one hears him talking to Lennie. He doesn't want people to know how dumb Lennie is.
Page 38
Instantly the table was brilliant with light, and the cone of the shade threw its brightness straight downward, leaving the corners of the bunk house still in dusk.
Saying that the light was 'thrown' downward shows that even though the bunk house 'has' light, it still is an unpleasant place to live.
Page 99
Already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gabilan mountains, and the hilltops were rosy in the sun.
This description is actually pretty, considering that Lennie recently killed Curley's Wife. It points out the fact that even though tragedy struck at the ranch, life is still going on. It seems to lend itself to the theme of 'the American Dream is unobtainable', in that dreams are being crushed every day, but the world is still the same, and in the end everybody essentially loses.