Final answer:
Pathetic fallacy in 'The Storm' personifies weather elements to mirror characters' emotions, creating an atmosphere of anxiety and expectation for the reader. It serves to heighten dramatic tension and challenge characters, ultimately affecting the reader's engagement with the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Pathetic Fallacy and Its Effects
Pathetic fallacy is a literary device where the environment or weather reflects the emotions of the characters within a narrative. In the context of the tropical storm in "The Storm," this technique establishes a sense of impending chaos and turmoil.
The use of violent imagery, such as winds that 'seize' the breath, personifies the weather as an antagonist. This creates an effect of anxiety and apprehension in the reader, heightening the expectation that something dire is on the horizon.
The introduction of a hurricane in a serene beach setting quickly shifts the mood and makes the reader reflect on the power of nature to alter circumstances dramatically. Furthermore, Garrison's analysis explains how nature, in this case personified through the storm, acts both as an element of plot and setting and serves as a symbolic device to further the narrative.
The comparison between Dorothy's initial fear of the weather and her subsequent transformation upon encountering the daffodils illustrates how natural phenomena can have contrasting influences on characters, thereby affecting the reader's interpretation.
Aristotle's notion that the internal structure of a work can evoke fear and pity without reliance on spectacle also speaks to the power of words to create emotional responses.