This post is meant to help develop and strenghten our understanding of FIGURES OF SPEECH. Please give a response and justification for your response.
'The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.' Gen 4:10 (God's response to Cain after he murdered his brother Abel) Methaphor or personification?
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This quote contains a personification i.e. "BLOOD CRIETH". The mere definition of a personification is giving an object human attributes.
ReplyDeleteTherefore in our example it is clear to see that blood in its literal state cannot cry. However, for emphasis and for the good use of imagery, 'blood crieth from the ground' lends a forceful depiction of the emotions and impact of the murder of Abel on God.
Conversely, the phrase is NOT a metaphor, although the definition of a metaphor i.e. linking two subjects that are not normally linked e.g. blood is not usually linked to crying. So, based on this fact you can mistake the phrase for a metaphor.
However, the other aspect of a metaphor will show why "blood crieth" is not a metaphor. To differentiate a metaphor, it shows that two subjects are equal or the same. In our example, although "blood" did take the human attribute of "crying" DID NOT say that blood IS a cry or blood is equal to a cry but rather blood cries.
For me, the quote taken as a whole is predominantly personified but has a hint of metaphor and a greater touch of imagery which I had not sighted until Chantal's contribution.
ReplyDeleteThe personification is obvious in the human quality of crying given to blood in the phrase "blood crieth". The observed touch of metaphor is in "the voice of thy brother". For me, whereas 'voice' does suggest a human attribute, its use denotes a comparison of the severity of the act of murder to a loud cry.
Hey! You do not have to agree with me.
Great Contribution Chantal! Written like a scholar.