One way to interpret the gods in Greek myths is to see them as personifications of forces in

nature like the sea or lightning, or of abstract concepts like wisdom or forethought. Yet

Baldwin says this kind of reading is "an error" that takes the charm out of these tales and

reduces their "precious gold into utilitarian iron." Why might Baldwin believe this? What

happens to characterization or other literary elements in the story if we read the gods as

personifications instead of literally?

Question

Jalen Ayers

English

20 August, 17:06

One way to interpret the gods in Greek myths is to see them as personifications of forces in

nature like the sea or lightning, or of abstract concepts like wisdom or forethought. Yet

Baldwin says this kind of reading is "an error" that takes the charm out of these tales and

reduces their "precious gold into utilitarian iron." Why might Baldwin believe this? What

happens to characterization or other literary elements in the story if we read the gods as

personifications instead of literally?

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Rachel Kent · Answer 1

Personification of God could result in the use of some of literary elements in the story like similes and metaphors.

Explanation:

Baldwin thought that God even in Greek could not be personified as other elements such as fire, ice, sea and so on. But because of this believe of Baldwin, God was believed and thought just to be normal and not personified.

But because of this use of personification, there was use of some of the literary elements in the story like that of similes and metaphors in the story where there is some kind of comparison of God with personifications and other elements.