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About this quote

What does it mean?
Poets project emotions onto indifferent weather, which the speaker sees as misguided.
In plain terms
Poets give weather personal emotions, even though it has none.
What can you take from it?
Recognize the difference between metaphor and literal attribution.

Where it applies

  • writing workshops
  • literary criticism
  • creative teaching

Putting it to work

  • use weather as a metaphor deliberately
  • avoid over‑personifying nature

Questions to consider

  • Why do poets personify nature?
  • When is it effective?

Another view

Personifying nature is a long‑standing poetic device.

More from J. D. Salinger

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