Question

"No, she must keep silence! What is it that suddenly forbids her and makes her dumb? Has she been nine years growing and now, when the great world for the first time puts out a hand to her, must she thrust it aside for a bird's sake?"

What is the best description of why this passage is an example of personification?
A. Sylvia loves the birds as if they are human, and she is denying herself an opportunity to save them.
B. Sylvia is shown as a compassionate, caring character.
C. The world is representative of the white heron which Sylvia loves as if it were human.
D. The world is given the human characteristics of having hands and giving offering opportunity to Sylvia.

Answer 1

We can rule out B and A. I think the answer would be D. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The correct answer is D. The world is given the human characteristics of having hands and giving offering opportunity to Sylvia.

Explanation:

Personification is a common literary device that occurs when non-human entities such as animals, plants, objects, etc. are described as human or are given human characteristics including feelings, actions or traits. In the case of the excerpt presented there is personification in "when the great world for the first time puts out a hand to her, must she thrust it aside for a bird's sake" because in this excerpt the world has hands and it trying to help a female character (Sylvia) with them, but hands are exclusive from human beings.