Personification is the practice of assigning human traits
to inanimate objects. Often, it involves objects that are described as behaving in a
manner similar to humans. There are several instances of personification in the short
story, “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty. Set during the Irish civil war, O’Flaherty
describes the conflict between the soldiers who fought on the side of the Republic and
those who designated themselves in favor of a Free State. As the sniper awaits the next
opportunity to fire upon the enemy, the author describes the scene around the
building:
“Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy
guns roared.”
The “Four Courts” are described as
beleaguered, suggesting that they are worn down, stressed and tired. These
characteristics are typically descriptive of humans. Likewise, in this statement, the
guns are said to “roar” as if they could wail or yell in opposition to the enemy
gunfire.
Other instances of personification include a
description of a bullet desperately clinging to a parapet, the motor of a vehicle
“panting,” or breathing heavily, a cloud of fear “scatter(ing)” away, and a machine gun
that viciously tears the ground:
“Almost immediately, a
bullet flattened itself against the parapet of the
roof.”
“The sniper could hear the dull panting of the
motor.”
“The cloud of fear scattered from his mind and he
laughed.”
“A machine gun tore up the ground around him with
a hail of bullets, but he escaped.”
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