Question

 Respond to the following questions after careful reading of the poem "Stop All The Clocks" (Before you begin the exercise, write definitions for 'metaphor' and 'personification')

 1. What does the poet mean by "Stop All the Clocks"?

 2. What has happened to make the poet want the clocks stopped?

 3. What emotion/emotions does the poet appear to be experiencing?

 4. In which stanza do you observe a change in the tone of the poet? Why does his tone change?

 5. Why does the poet say in lines 21-22, "I was wrong"?

 6. (a) What 2 things does the poet want 'aeroplanes' to do?

 (b) Can "aeroplanes" do these things? To what 2 things is he comparing "aeroplanes"?

 (c) The first comparison is an example of

 (d) The second comparison is a

 7. (a) In the final stanza, the poet wishes that things in nature would "stop" also. What does he want to be done to each one?

 (b) Can anyone "Pack up the moon"? To what is he comparing the moon - and

 all the other things in this stanza?

 (c) Which figurative device has the poet used to create these comparisons?

 8. In short, what does the poet really want, and why?

 

Answer 1

Definitions for Metaphor and Personification

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.

Here are the basics:

• A metaphor states that one thing is another thing
• It equates those two things not because they actually are the same, but for the sake of comparison or symbolism
• If you take a metaphor literally, it will probably sound very strange (are there actually any sheep, black or otherwise, in your family?)
• Metaphors are used in poetry, literature, and anytime someone wants to add some color to their language

Personification is a type of metaphor and a common literary tool. It is when you assign the qualities of a person to something that isn't human or that isn't even alive, like nature or emotions. There are many reasons for using personification. It can be used as a method of describing something so that others can more easily understand it. It can be used to emphasize a point. It can be used to help paint a picture in your mind. You may in fact use personification without even knowing it.

There is often confusion between personification and anthropomorphism. While personification means giving an object or animal human characteristics to create interesting imagery – as in nursery rhymes like "Hey Diddle Diddle," where "the little dog laughed to see such fun" – anthropomorphism means making an object or animal act and look like they are human, as in Peter Rabbit.

Personification Examples in Literature

Personification is often found in literature and poetry. Some examples include:

"Two Sunflowers Move into the Yellow Room" by Nancy Willard

“Ah, William, we’re weary of weather,”
said the sunflowers, shining with dew.
“Our traveling habits have tired us.
Can you give us a room with a view?”
They arranged themselves at the window
and counted the steps of the sun,
and they both took root in the carpet
where the topaz tortoises run.

In this poem, the sunflowers are talking to the poet William Blake. They are tired of being outside and tell him that they want to be moved. We know that sunflowers cannot be tired or talk so Willard uses personification to give them these attributes.

"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth

"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

This poem brings the beauty and tranquility of nature to life. The daffodils are personified as a crowd of people dancing, while Wordsworth floats like a cloud enjoying the show.

Personification can also be found in literature. William Shakespeare uses it throughout Romeo and Juliet. One example is in Act 2 when Friar Lawrence is picking flowers for his various potions. He says:

"The grey-ey'd morn smiles on the frowning night, Check'ring the Eastern clouds with streaks of light."

In describing the morning as smiling at the night he is personifying the morning and establishing a romantic setting for Romeo and Juliet's love to unfold.

50 Ways to Use Personification

The following sentences use the personification technique. See if you can identify which part of the word or phrase is the personification. The answers are below:

1. The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.	26. While making my way to my car, it appeared to smile at me mischievously.
2. The run-down house appeared depressed.	27. The car, painted lime green, raced by screaming for attention.
3. The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow.	28. The butterflies in the meadow seemed to two-step with one another.
4. She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her door.	29. The waffle jumped up out of the toaster.
5. He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the door.	30.The popcorn leapt out of the bowl.
6. The bees played hide and seek with the flowers as they buzzed from one to another.	31. When the DVD went on sale, it flew off the shelves.
7. The wind howled its mighty objection.	32. I tripped because the curb jumped out in front of me.
8. The snow swaddled the earth like a mother would her infant child.	33. Time creeps up on you.
9. The river swallowed the earth as the water continued to rise higher and higher.	34. The news took me by surprise.
10. Time flew and before we knew it, it was time for me to go home.	35. The fire ran wild.
11. The ocean waves lashed out at the boat and the storm continued to brew.	36. The thunder clapped angrily in the distance.
12. My computer throws a fit every time I try to use it.	37. The tornado ran through town without a care.
13. The thunder grumbled like an old man.	38. The door protested as it opened slowly.
14. The flowers waltzed in the gentle breeze.	39. The evil tree was lurking in the shadows.
15. Her life passed her by.	40. The tree branch moaned as I swung from it.
16. The sun glared down at me from the sky.	41. Time marches to the beat of its own drum.
17. The moon winked at me through the clouds above.	42. The storm attacked the town with great rage.
18. The wind sang through the meadow.	43. My life came screeching to a halt.
19. The car was suffering and was in need of some TLC.	44. The baseball screamed all the way into the outfield.
20. At precisely 6:30 am my alarm clock sprang to life.	45. The blizzard swallowed the town.
21. The window panes were talking as the wind blew through them.	46. The tsunami raced towards the coastline.
22. The ocean danced in the moonlight.	47. The avalanche devoured everything in its path.
23. The words appeared to leap off of the paper as she read the story.	48. The pistol glared at me from its holster.
24. The phone awakened with a mighty ring.	49. The car beckoned me from across the showroom.
25. The funeral raced by me in a blur.	50. I could hear Hawaii calling my name.

The poem is given below:

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone

W. H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Q-1:

The poet wants to stop all the clocks as his friend has died, and funeral ceremony is going on.

Q-2:

Out of the feeling of loss of his friend, the poet wants the clocks stopped.

Q-3:

The poet is experiencing the feeling of loss of his friend.