Personification. Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea, animal, or thing is described as if it were a person. Look for examples of personification as you read these two poems.
Symbol. A symbol is a thing that stands for, or represents, both itself and something else. Most symbols are concrete words or phrases that name something we can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. Symbols often represent abstract concepts—such as happiness, freedom, or honesty—that cannot be perceived by the five senses.
There are a number of traditional symbols that have widely recognized associations. Examples of these include doves for peace, the color green for jealousy, spring for youth, wind for change, rainbows for hope, roses for beauty, and roads for the journey through life. In “Under the Harvest Moon,” Sandburg tells the reader what the abstract concept is and ties it to concrete details. As you read this poem, look at the links between the abstract concepts of death and love and the concrete details used to describe each concept. At right is a chart you can copy to organize your ideas.
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• Science Connection. The harvest moon is the full moon of September and that which occurs nearest the autumn equinox—the time when fall begins in the northern hemisphere and spring begins in the southern hemisphere. The harvest moon rises early and is full or nearly full for several days in a row. It often appears bigger and brighter than other full moons because it is close to the horizon. The harvest moon got its name because in the past, farmers often depended on its light to finish bringing in their crops.
• History Connection. Halloween began thousands of years ago with the Celtic peoples of Ireland, England, and France. The ancient celebration Samhain was one of four major high days, or holidays, celebrated by the Celts. These major high days were referred to as fire festivals, because the Celts regarded fire as a symbol of divinity, holiness, truth, and beauty. Samhain was the most important fire festival because it marked the Celtic new year.
What do you think of when you hear the word “autumn”?
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