The Yearling Figurative Language Analysis

A Pulitzer Prize is an award for an achievement in American journalism, literature, or music. Paul Gigot, chairman of the Pulitzer Prize board, described the award as a “proud and robust tradition”. How does one carry on this robust tradition? By mastery of skilled writing technique, one can be considered for the awarding of this prize. Since its creation in 1917, 13 have been awarded annually, one of which, in 1939, was given to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for her novel, The Yearling. Rawlings is an American author from Florida known for writing rural themed novels. Consequently, The Yearling is about a boy living on a farm who adopts an orphaned fawn. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings procured a prestigious Pulitzer Prize for her effectual use of figurative language, sensory details, and syntax.

Rawlings was given a Pulitzer Prize for The Yearling is her splendid use of figurative language. An infinite amount of similes, metaphors, and personification examples are present. On page 7, for instance, Rawlings wrote, “He lay absorbing the fine-dropped rain like a young plant”. This simile is especially strong due to its comparison with an aspect of nature, which the setting revolves around. Metaphors are also used throughout, including on page 225- “The rain was a solid wall, from sky to earth.” This metaphor gives the word “wall” a weather-related connotation that it normally would not have out of context. Moreover, on page 225, personification is also used. In regards to the wind, Rawlings wrote, “It reached down his shirt and into his mouth and eyes and ears and tried to strangle him.” Personifying the weather’s actions is a very powerful way to describe the treacherous conditions. Also found in this quote is a polysyndeton that enumerates the list of places the wind reached using excessive conjunctions. Marjorie K. Rawlings’ use of figurative language undoubtedly contributed to her Pulitzer Prize