It’s hard to come to terms with something that can’t be remembered. When memories are lost due to a traumatic event or an excess amount of alcohol we start to formulate a story to fill in the gaps. In healing through stories the use of anthropomorphism, human qualities assigned to an inanimate object, leaves a powerful impact on the reader. It is an effective way to heal for the writer, while entertaining the reader.
“Barreling down the street, I am coming in hot. Preparing for impact I don’t have much time to react. Young, inexperienced, fueled on high octane, it isn’t looking good.
Exert from the unedited Swallow Your Pride, Karen Esbenshade
“The way I see it I have three options, but the fourth one is the one that will save me.
“A direct, straight forward hit, my solid frame will wrap around a massive tree trunk. Standing its ground, the tree has deep roots. The tree is the namesake of the street and isn’t going anywhere. I will take the brunt of the impact. If I veer slightly to the left or right, the fortress built on sand will soften my blow. The fortress is situated at a nasty bend in the road, where others before me have been weaponized by a drunken rampage. The third scenario is what I fear the most. If I follow the curve of the road I will plummet into the icy waters of the angry bay. And my owner would say ‘I was ridden hard and put away wet.’
“Fortunately, I did not harm anyone or anything on my path to destruction. Still, I was carrying precious cargo, their future hinged on my chosen path.
“Sitting there on my path, is the matron of my family. She is fearless. She has miles of experience, evading capture over the years. Through the years she has had her share of abuse, but a good polish makes her appear flawless. Her days are numbered, so she did what any good parent would do, put her life on the line. On that day, March 17, 2021, life as she knew it would change. Due to her actions the damage to myself is minimal and the precious cargo is spared. She would be put to rest in the salvage graveyard.”
The use of anthropomorphism in writing helps me to share my story so others can resonate with my trauma. Four years ago, I was in an horrific accident. Thankfully, there were no severe injuries and we walked away with little more than a scratch and bruise. It is my pride that took the brunt of the accident and it is my pride that led to my spiritual death.
Healing Through Stories: With Creativity
Writing a story, when the author needs to recover information from a traumatic experience, can be quite painful. It’s easy to dismiss what we can’t remember. This is way to process human emotions that are used to characterize the objects that remain.
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, feelings, and behaviors to inanimate objects, nonhuman animals, or nature. Anthropomorphism can occur consciously or unconsciously and is a common way people perceive the world.
George Orwell uses this literary device in Animal Farm, by depicting farm animals with human characteristics. I do the same in the previous pull quote from Swallow Your Pride. The automobiles that were involved in the accident are from my recollection and used to portray my feelings.
Why use anthropomorphism:
- We reason based on ourselves. Anthropomorphism helps us make sense of what I don’t understand. I take what I know and apply it to my story-telling. It helps to express my inner-most thoughts.
- We use as a coping mechanism. It’s a way for me to make light of a serious event and allow myself to process my feelings. Until I face something head-on I cannot heal.
- It is used to enhance the story. Writers use anthropomorphism to create inanimate characters that are relatable and engaging. It helps to bring the story to life.
Fiction
When the truth can’t be told, then it is the fiction that tells the story. When someone else shares another person’s story the words get twisted and overtime the narrative is changed. The exert from Swallow Your Pride above shares in my words the night of my accident. It is my version and I use anthropomorphism as fiction to express my ideas.
There are times when writing doesn’t take much effort, the words start to flow and take on a life of their own. The words alone take on human form. All that is needed is something to substantiate my thoughts, like a police report and viewing the crime scene, and that is how the piece of flash fiction above was born. Clearly, vehicles don’t have emotions or thought patterns.
Instead of using the people as characters in my story-telling I chose the vehicles. It is one vehicle that was weaponized and another that spared the lives of the people involved. It’s not for me to tell another person’s story and this is the alternative mode of storytelling.
Subscribe
Subscribe to grow-together.blog to not miss an entertaining, informative and inspiring blog post.
Healing Through Stories: The Written Word
It’s hard to come to terms with something that isn’t tangible. That is why I struggled with Christianity for most of my life. I wasn’t able to see a living God, nor physically feel Him. It wasn’t until the accident that led to the experience, where I invited Jesus in and physically felt the Holy Spirit.
After experiencing trauma our body, mind and soul each need healing. That is when we can turn to our Creator for salvation. I felt His spirit working within me.
Anthropomorphism in the Bible: (Gk. anthropos [a[nqrwpo"] [human] + morphe [morfhv] [form]). Assignment of human attributes to nonhuman things. Biblical anthropomorphisms are used primarily in reference to God, who is neither visible ( John 1:18 ) nor human ( Num 23:19 ; 1 Sam 15:29 ).
When we read the Bible anthropomorphism’s are used through out to help us understand God’s nature and character. The prayer below is what I pray over my friends who are battling disease or illness. Literally, actual hands are not placed on them for healing, nor do arms embrace the family for comfort, but figuratively God’s spirit is with them.
It’s something that Christians feel in their hearts.
Dear Lord,
I lift up ___________ to you. I pray for your healing hands to rest on their body. I pray for your loving arms to embrace the family and offer comfort.
In Jesus' name, Amen
Using Anthropomorphism Sparingly
As an author it’s best to not overuse anthropomorphism. It can create ambiguity and misrepresentation. It can be used to complement but not solely to tell a story.
Anthropomorphism is also used as a literary device in art, literature, and film to create relatable characters (e.g., the droids in Star Wars) or to tell an allegorical story (e.g., George Orwell’s Animal Farm).
Anthropomorphism is used to show a loving God, we need to be mindful to not portray God merely by human traits because there is much we cannot comprehend about the living God. We are only given small glimpses of His glory, nothing compares to God.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
I chose to remove the anthropomorphism from my completed book because it didn’t add to my story. It was a good exercise to get my creative juices flowing. And I encourage you to give it a go… Take an experience, remove the actual characters (people-form) and replace with characterizing the inanimate objects. Challenge yourself and see if the story is a good representation of the event.
Leave a Reply