Literary Devices Literary Devices    

Lesson 19: Personification: Mowing

by Robert Frost

Performer: Librivox - Winston Tharp

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

In Robert Frost's 'Mowing,' the narrator cuts hay and imagines his scythe is whispering secret messages to the ground. He ponders what the scythe is saying - perhaps something about the hot sun or the quiet. He doesn't think the scythe dreams of lazing about or easy riches. Rather, the reality of its simple work is enough for the scythe, whether its cutting rows of hay or scaring green snakes.

Concepts

Poets often use literary devices, defined as 'rules of thumb, convention, or structure that are employed in literature and storytelling.'

The nine literary devices we'll study include:

1. Rhyming
2. Alliteration
3. Similes
4. Metaphors
5. Personification
6. Foreshadowing
7. Allusion
8. Hyperbole
9. Onomatopoeia

Personification is a literary device in which an inanimate object or an idea is given human qualities.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem. How does the image differ from the poem?

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Identify Personification in the Examples

Read aloud the examples below and identify the object being personified.

• The sullen leaf refused to float down the gutter stream.
• The jubilant daisy nodded its flower head along with the song of the birds.
• The snake whispered menacing threats to the small boy.
• The diamond engagement ring flashed in the light, mocking me with its brilliance.
• The roof moaned and groaned, warning us it would soon succumb to the hurricane.

Activity 5: Identify the Rhyme Scheme

Review the poem and identify the pattern of its rhyming scheme. (e.g. ABBACDCD, etc.)

Activity 6: Identify Personified Object(s)

Review the poem excerpts and identify anything personified.

• And that was my long scythe whispering to the ground. What was it it whispered? I knew not well myself;
• And that was why it whispered and did not speak.
• My long scythe whispered and left the hay to make.

Activity 7: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 58-60 of 'Elementary Poetry 5: Literary Devices.'

References

'Personification.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.