Have you ever felt the rain mirror your sadness or the sun celebrate your joy? Welcome to the enchanting realm of pathetic fallacy in writing, where nature becomes a canvas for human emotions. In this blog post, we will delve into the essence of pathetic fallacy, differentiate between pathetic fallacy and personification, and explore various examples.
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Let’s unravel the simplicity and beauty of this literary device that turns weather and landscapes into emotional storytellers.
What Is Pathetic Fallacy?
Pathetic fallacy is a literary device where human emotions and characteristics are attributed to nature or inanimate objects. The purpose of using pathetic fallacy is to create a vivid and emotional atmosphere in literature, allowing the reader to connect more deeply with the narrative.
Here are some famous examples of pathetic fallacy:
- The wind whispering through the trees in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
- The sun setting in a blaze of fury in Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death.”
- The ocean groaning under the weight of a storm in Homer’s Odyssey.
Pathetic Fallacy vs. Personification
1/ Personification:
This is the simple act of attributing human qualities to non-human things. Imagine a mischievous squirrel running through the trees, a grumpy cloud growling and thundering, or a playful breeze playing in your hair. These are all examples of personification, in which we directly attribute human characteristics and actions to non-human entities.
2/ Pathetic Fallacy:
This takes things one step further. It’s not just about giving things human qualities but also about projecting human emotions onto them. Think of a withered rose crying for lost love, an angry river roaring, or a lonely mountain shrouded in a cloak of despair. Here, non-humans do not simply act like humans; they are reflecting human emotions back to us.
Key differences:
- Focus: Personification focuses on attributing human qualities, while pathetic fallacy focuses on expressing human emotions.
- Effect: Personification adds vividness and relevance, while pathos adds emotional depth and symbolic meaning.
For example:
- Personification: The ship “crosses the waves” (giving the ship a human action).
- Pathetic fallacy: “The wind howls sadly” (projecting human emotions into the wind).
Pathetic Fallacy Examples
Here are 15 famous examples of pathetic fallacy in literature:
1/ Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18:
Example: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
The poet compares the beauty of the subject to a summer’s day, using the changing weather as a reflection of the transient nature of life and beauty.
2/ Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights”:
The harsh weather mirrors the intense passions and turbulent relationships in the novel.
3/ John Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale”:
Example: “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!”
Keats uses the nightingale’s song to express the idea of eternal beauty, contrasting it with the ephemeral nature of human life.
4/ Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations”:
Example: The eerie marshes where Pip encounters the convict.
The desolate landscape intensifies the fear and suspense in the scene, reflecting Pip’s emotions.
5/ William Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”:
Example: The description of nature reflects the speaker’s changing emotions over time.
Explanation: The beauty and tranquility of nature serve as a backdrop to the speaker’s contemplation of life and the passage of time.
6/ J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series:
Example: The Whomping Willow’s behavior in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”
The violent actions of the tree parallel the danger and tension within the magical world.
7/ Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre”:
Example: The gloomy weather during key moments in the story.
The somber weather reflects the challenges and hardships faced by the protagonist.
8/ George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”:
Example: The storm that destroys the windmill.
The destructive storm mirrors the setbacks and failures of the animal rebellion and the corruption of power.
9/ Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade”:
Example: “Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them…”
The relentless and destructive nature of war is emphasized through the harsh and chaotic surroundings.
10/ Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”:
Example: The decaying mansion and the storm outside.
The dilapidated house and the storm symbolize the decay of the Usher family and the impending tragedy.
11/ Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”:
Example: The peaceful snow-covered woods.
The serene snowfall reflects the speaker’s contemplation of life’s choices and the allure of nature.
12/ Homer’s “The Odyssey”:
Example: The storm sent by the god Poseidon.
The tempest symbolizes the wrath of the gods and the challenges faced by the hero Odysseus.
13/ Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”:
Example: The storm on the night of Victor Frankenstein’s creation of the creature.
The turbulent weather mirrors the unnatural and disruptive act of creating life.
14/ Thomas Hardy’s “Far From the Madding Crowd”:
Example: The storm during the harvest scene.
The storm heightens the tension in the pivotal moment, reflecting the emotional turmoil of the characters.
15/ E.E. Cummings’ “in Just-“:
Example: “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful” to describe spring.
The playful and joyful language used to describe spring reflects the exuberance and freshness of the season.
Tips For Using Pathetic Fallacy In Writing
- Emotion Alignment: Align the chosen weather or natural element with the emotions of your characters or the mood of the scene.
- Subtlety is Key: Use pathetic fallacy sparingly to avoid becoming overly dramatic or predictable. Let it enhance the atmosphere without overshadowing the narrative.
- Symbolic Connections: Establish symbolic connections between the weather and the theme or message you want to convey, adding depth to your writing.
- Choose Appropriate Elements: Select natural elements that resonate with the tone of your story or the emotions you want to evoke. Each element has its own symbolic associations.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of explicitly stating emotions, use pathetic fallacy to show them through the environment, allowing readers to feel the emotions organically.
- Enhance Descriptive Language: Use pathetic fallacy as a tool to enhance your descriptive language, making scenes more vivid and engaging for the reader.
Conclusion
Pathetic fallacy is like a magic wand for storytellers. It helps mix nature with our feelings in a beautiful way. Imagine the weather, landscapes, and things around us joining a quiet dance in a story. Writers use this to make you feel deep emotions, create special moods, and add meaningful symbols to their stories.
