ANIMATING NATURE: PERSONIFICATION IN MALAYSIAN AND AMERICAN NATURE-THEMED POETRY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i4.1273Keywords:
cultural values, figurative language, nature-themed poetry, personification, American poetryAbstract
Figurative language is used in poetry to express emotions and thoughts beyond literal meaning. Therefore, poets employ figurative devices to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their literary works and reader engagement more effectively. Nature, for example, is a common theme among poets across traditions to convey complex human emotions. By personifying or animating nature with human traits and actions, poets make emotional and symbolic meanings more relatable to their readers. However, interpretations can vary considerably across cultural contexts because different communities attribute unique values and symbolic meanings to nature. This study examined the use of personification in Malaysian and American nature-themed poems. Through qualitative content analysis, personified expressions were identified and analysed in relation to the poets’ cultural values. The findings show that personification is a culturally influenced way of understanding nature, morality and identity. In the Malaysian poem, personification is used to promote a collective moral critique and ecological responsibility. Conversely, the American poem employs personification to highlight individual resilience and independence. Pedagogically, these findings emphasise the importance of combining stylistic analysis with culturally informed interpretations in poetry education.
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