Guide to Literary Terms Group

Question:

englishforever
englishforever
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Can anyone identify an example of personification in the song "One Tin Soldier" by The Original Caste?

In the song "One Tin Soldier" by The Original Caste I need can't seem to find an example of personification? Thank you!

http://www.ocap.ca/songs/onetinso.html

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Posted by englishforever on Sunday March 1, 2009 at 9:33 PM and tagged with reference.

Answers:

  1. pirateteacher
    pirateteacher Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The line "Now the valley cried with anger, mount your horses, draw your sword!" offers personification because it gives the valley the human qualities of "crying."

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    Posted by pirateteacher on Sunday March 1, 2009 at 9:42 PM


  2. kmieciakp Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    Another phrase that might be considered personification is "one tin soldier rides away"--for a soldier made of tin is not human.  But that's a stretch, because really "one tin soldier" refers to a human, a rebel metaphorically described by the tin, not so much to a metal toy.  But wait . . . now that I think of it, that's also not exactly true, for Billy Jack (drop head, raise fist), is toyed with. 

    And not to contradict but to extend--"valley cried" is also an example of what's called synecdoche, a way of speaking where the whole stands for its parts: in this case where "the valley" stands for "the people of the valley."

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    Posted by kmieciakp on Monday March 2, 2009 at 12:56 AM