Anthropomorphism
DEFINITION
Anthropomorphism can be understood to be the act of lending a human quality, emotion or ambition to a non-human object or being. Note that this is similar to personification, but not the same. Personification is an act of giving human characteristics to animals or objects to create imagery, while anthropomorphism aims to make an animal or object behave and appear like they are human beings. The use of objects or animals makes the story become visually appealing and non-threatening to the readers.
EXAMPLE FROM ANIMAL FARM
“Then they saw what Clover had seen. It was a pig walking on his hind legs. Yes, it was Squealer. A little awkwardly, as though not quite used to supporting his considerable bulk in that position, but with perfect balance, he was strolling across the yard. And a moment later, out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs, all walking on their hind legs” (Orwell 121-122).
FUNCTION
The story Animal Farm is supposed to resemble the Russian Revolution. If Orwell had just written a story about the Russian Revolution, probably not as many people would have read it. Making the characters in the book all animals that act like humans makes the book have some humor, and makes it a good read for a larger audience. Because Orwell uses animals instead of humans, younger kids could read this book and understand it and not get scared by it. Not only does it make it easier for younger kids to understand, but also makes it easier to understand for anyone reading it. Orwell gets his message about the Russian Revolution, and all its terrible conditions, through to any kind of audience by using the animals. Also personally, I believe because the animals add humor, it took no time to get through the book and enjoy it immensely.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
FUNCTION
The story Animal Farm is supposed to resemble the Russian Revolution. If Orwell had just written a story about the Russian Revolution, probably not as many people would have read it. Making the characters in the book all animals that act like humans makes the book have some humor, and makes it a good read for a larger audience. Because Orwell uses animals instead of humans, younger kids could read this book and understand it and not get scared by it. Not only does it make it easier for younger kids to understand, but also makes it easier to understand for anyone reading it. Orwell gets his message about the Russian Revolution, and all its terrible conditions, through to any kind of audience by using the animals. Also personally, I believe because the animals add humor, it took no time to get through the book and enjoy it immensely.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
It’s easy to find all kinds of examples for anthropomorphism, but one book that is so popular that it became a movie is The Jungle Book. A mother and father wolf find a baby boy after his parents are killed by a tiger. They name him Mowgli. Mowgli is first raised by the wolves, the mother caring dearly for him: “Come soon,” said Mother Wolf, “little naked son of mine; for, listen, child of man, I loved thee more than ever I loved my cubs.” Later Mowgli makes friends with a panther, Bagheera, and a bear, Baloo, while running into trouble with Ka and Shere Khan, the snake and the tiger. All of these animals and many more in the story have complex emotions and conversations with Mowgli, which is something only humans really do. NON-ORIGINAL MNEMONIC
ORIGINAL MNEMONIC
Etymology says that anthropos means 'mankind' and morph means 'shape or figure'. So anthropomorphic is having human form or figure.
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