Have you ever wondered why a lot of children’s programs have animals and objects that act human? Some of the most popular examples are Winnie-the-Pooh, the Fantastic Mr. Fox, Lumiere and Cogsworth, and Spongebob Squarepants.
These characters are all examples of anthropomorphism, a literary device where you attribute human traits to non-human entities. This can range from their actions and emotions to their form and intentions.
What is Anthropomorphism?
Anthropomorphism is the technique of giving human traits to animals, objects, and other non-human things. It’s a well-established literary device that’s been used since ancient times, most commonly in fables.
It is so prevalent in literature, pop culture, and everyday speech that you don’t even think twice about it. Barney’s a big, purple dinosaur who loves giving hugs and kisses (Barney and Friends). Toys can talk (Toy Story). Animals can overthrow their masters and govern themselves (Animal Farm).
You don’t think much about how odd these stories are because of a combination of your suspension of disbelief and that the activities they do make sense from a human perspective.
Examples in Literature
Here are some examples of anthropomorphism taken from classic and modern works of literature.
1. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Narnia is chock-full of creatures that embody human qualities. Aside from Aslan (a talking lion that is also a king and parallels Jesus in our world), other notable examples are Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Reepicheep the Mouse, Bree the Talking Horse, Shift the Ape, and Puzzle the Donkey.
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The New Gods that appear in this book are the anthropomorphic forms of certain things and concepts that currently hold sway over America and modern culture.
A few standouts are Technical Boy (god of technology and the internet), Media (goddess of television), and the Spooks (members of an Agency that represent the American’s belief in secret organizations and conspiracies).
3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Zusak uses Death as the narrator for his book. To make him more relatable, he gives Death a job (carrying people away when they die), a sense of humor, feelings, and curiosity towards humans.
4. Paddington by Michael Bond
Paddington is a small bear from Darkest Peru who set out on an adventure to England. He wears an old hat, a duffel coat, and carries around a battered suitcase. He also loves marmalade, is extremely polite, and has a talent for trouble.
5. The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
Dr. Moreau is a mad scientist who literally anthropomorphizes animals through experimental surgery. The animals he experiments on gain human traits, having their own thought processes, personalities, and traumas.
6. Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
The rhyme doesn’t explicitly say that the subject is an egg. However, Humpty Dumpty is popularly portrayed as an oversized egg with hands and legs.
7. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Gregor Samsa wakes up and finds himself transformed into a gigantic, monstrous bug. It’s considered anthropomorphism because while he has transformed into a non-human being, his thoughts and feelings remain human.
Anthropomorphism Vs Personification
Anthropomorphism and personification are literary devices that work the same way. They take human characteristics and give them to something non-human.
However, anthropomorphism is literal while personification is metaphorical. For example, if you say “the ocean enveloped me in its wet embrace”, you’re making a figurative connection between being covered in water and the physical act of a hug. This is personification.
But if the water takes on a humanoid form and gives you a hug with arms made of water, then it is considered anthropomorphism.
The Purpose of Anthropomorphism
Humans understand human behavior, experiences, and emotions the most, making stories that feature human-like elements more familiar and visceral. Writers can take advantage of this through anthropomorphism.
It also makes your stories imaginative. Depending on your goal, this can make your story satirical, whimsical, or symbolical.
Animal Farm becomes a clever, and humorous allegory about politics. Alice in Wonderland gets its surreal atmosphere by using animals, plants, and objects as characters. In Maus, Jews are depicted as rats while the Nazis are cats, a visual symbol that persists throughout the graphic novel.
This is why many children’s entertainment use animals as characters. Not only do they capture children’s attention better, but it also makes it easier for them to digest complex concepts and pick up on social behaviors and cues.
What do you think about anthropomorphism? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Personification: Definition and Examples
- Zoomorphism: Assigning Animal Traits To Non-animals
- Extended Metaphors Explained: Definition, Purpose, and Examples from Literature
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
