Question

How does the personification in paragraph 1 of Araby help set the tone of the passages describing the boy's environment?

A) By creating a sense of warmth and comfort in the boy's surroundings.
B) By emphasizing the lifelessness and dullness of the boy's environment.
C) By highlighting the beauty and vibrancy of the boy's surroundings.
D) By suggesting a sense of mystery and intrigue in the boy's environment.

Answer 1

The personification in 'Araby' emphasizes the lifelessness and dullness of the boy's environment, contrasting an oppressive atmosphere with the characters' emotions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The personification in paragraph 1 of James Joyce's 'Araby' primarily serves to underscore the dreariness and lifelessness of the boy's surroundings. It is implied that the weather acts as an antagonist with descriptors like "threatening," "cheerless and gloomy," this paints the landscape in an oppressive light. Furthermore, the flowers are endowed with human-like fatigue, resting, mirroring the possible weariness of the characters themselves, which suggests a sympathy between the environment and human emotion. Thus, the personification sets a tone that emphasizes the stale, monotonous, and somewhat grim aspects of the boy’s environment. In contrast to a tone that might suggest warmth or vibrancy, the personification here aligns more closely with the sentiment of option B, creating an atmosphere fraught with the dullness and oppressiveness of the boy's life.