Personification
Using Human Characteristics to describe non-human things
“As though in challenge, the diving board scowled at me. I placed my hands on the rungs and began the climb.”
Judgmental, psychopathic, untrustworthy, horrifying, hateful
cold, frightening, horrifying, sinister, dark, eerie
Personification of a house:
Straight ahead from the cracked stone pathway, a set of looming red doors glare towards the street beyond, their unwelcoming presence a constant reminder of just how imminent death is for all. The arms of large oak trees, barren and lifeless attempt to stretch upwards towards the overhead fog, their grasp always struggling, but never truly reaching the night sky. A house the colour of burnt coal, emerges from within its mask of fog, yet remains shielded by the towering stature of a daunting stone archway. As the wide set doors swing open, a creaking sound warns all those who enter of the dangers that lie ahead. In their wake sits a monstrous spiral staircase carrying the burden of years upon years of wear. Yellowing wallpaper struggles to keep its grasp on the sloping walls, staggering downwards as it has given up hope of ever returning to its once pristine state. Portraits of solemn individuals stare down in earnest, disappointed at the rugged mess that they see before them. The ceramic tiling that lines the floor creaks and groans, in an obvious state of agony from years of abuse and exploitation. A grandfather clock croaks out a chime from the room beyond, a cry out for help to escape its struggles that will forever remain unanswered. Candelabras are grasped by scones that line the walls, their candles coated with a thick film of dust that sweeps upwards in an attempt to reach the night sky.
Complex Sentences
Graffiti Street
Exploding pops of colour of every variation meet the eye as the graffiti street comes into view. Beneath the colour sat red cobblestone buildings reaching skyward to surround this joyful place, their once blank exterior now covered in the remains of artists dreams. Frightful creatures from beyond one’s deepest imagination decorate each brick in a radiant array of bursting colours. Beyond what meets the eye, the alley stretches onwards, with each new corner a new array of bustling illustrations comes to flood one’s vision. On the concrete pathway, dusty remains of chalk litter the ground, upon which garbage bins, long since overstuffed lay abandoned. Amidst the colour, words indistinguishable beneath years of wear lay as a reminder of those who have visited.
Language Connotations
A language connotation is a commonly understood cultural or emotional association that some word or phrase carries, in addition to its explicit or literal meaning, which is its denotation. It is frequently described as either positive or negative, concerning its pleasing or displeasing emotional connection. The associative meaning of a word.
The Quad
Positive Connotations
The classroom buildings open up to reveal a viridescent green meadow, one so exhaustlessly fertile that it appears to be teeming with new growth that spring has brought. Golden rays of sunlight beam down to warm the bronzed skin of young students, who happily meander through the crisp spring grass. Daisies and meadow flowers, the colour of a warm summers day sway in the subtle breeze, a dance that proclaims the prospect of new life. Joyful laughter echoes off the towering trees and the pleasant aroma of lavender wafts gently through the warm air.
Negative Connotations
The classroom buildings open up to reveal a wearisome patch of dry land, one so exhaustlessly barren that it appears to have not seen new life in years.
Scorching rays of sunlight struggle down through the overcast sky to crisp the ghostly pale skin of young students, who’s silence fills the quad with an eerie sense of secrecy. Dead daisies and meadow flowers, the, long since been without water sway lifelessly in the blistering wind, a dance that expresses their lack of hope. Joyful laughter echoes off the towering trees and the pleasant aroma of lavender wafts gently through the warm air.
Extended Metaphor
Like a regular metaphor, an extended metaphor looks to draw on the shared figurative characteristics of two concepts. In order to extend the device, you should consider how language connotations, similes, metaphor and other devices combine a piece to continually convey the shared characteristics.
The Quad
The bell sounds signalling the beginning of feeding time. Senior snakes, flick and hiss their tongues hungrily at the prospect of fresh prey. The snake pit awaits, its dominating presence looming over those who reside within. A rattling sound fills the previously silent air, as newcomers approach, a sense of distaste seeming to surround this spine-chilling place. Scaly, green creatures reside within, baring their razor sharp fangs, each one armed with the power to kill a dozen and without hesitation. Cold reptilian eyes watch others in a piercing manner, claiming their territory on the glass and telling all those who come near that they are not to be trifled with. Brown coils of scaly skin plant themselves upon this patch of grass. There they will stay until the bells sound, indicating the end of feeding time. Feeding time begins as the young snakes are released from their enclosures, their pace slow, steady and alert as they approach the congregation of their superiors. A Boa constrictor lounges in a canopy tree, its fangs shining in the midday sunlight and bared at the ready. It pounces and the blood bath begins. The sour taste of venom fills the air with its dominating presence.
A place that makes me happy
2nd person writing practice
You walk up to the faded white doors that glisten in the early morning light. The doors swing open at the slightest touch, a welcome as you have now returned home. Golden rays of sunlight shine through the open windows to illuminate the kitchen which lies beyond in a soft glow. Emerging into the kitchen, you are instantly flooded with warmth at the feeling of familiarity that it brings you. White countertops lay covered with open cookbooks passed down through the generations, each one decorated with flourishes of Italian script from ancestors that came before you.
Look. The stove top. Atop the flickering blue flames sits a large granite saute pan, filled to the brim with bright red, of which could only be fresh tomato sauce. Bubbles of juice splatter across the pristine countertops, decorating its otherwise stark appearance with an array of colour. Your Nonna stands infront of the farthest countertop, her hands pressed down over the surface as she kneeds a ball of dough with passion, before tossing them in the air to form that final disc shape. Each one unique and special from one another, a reminder of the beauty that comes from imperfections.
Inhaling deep, smells of Grandpa’s freshly picked rosemary, from the garden outside waft in through the open window to fill the kitchen with the smells of an Italian summer. Memories flood your mind, of childhood, of running through the gardens in Summer, of vineyards and rows of tomatoes growing bountifully in the iridescent sun. Herbs of cilantro, oregano and parsley lay in disarray, their vibrant green colours decorating the otherwise barren wooding cutting boards.
Uncle Pasquale emerges from the dining room with a bottle of aged red wine for the elders to share. The cork is popped from the lid, its sound echoing throughout the estate, bringing family from far and wide into the kitchen to celebrate.
All is just as it is supposed to be. With the sauce slowly bubbling away, the woodfire oven aflame, wafts of spices and herbs drifting through the air and the elders with their glasses of red in hand. All is as it was always supposed to be.
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