Form and function of Personification in fables A case study of selected Luganda Fables

Abstract

The Study analyzes the form and function of personification in Ganda fables. The Study explores the role of personification such as thematic development, character portrayal and a variety of moral lessons in the various chapters. The theme of unity is brought out in all fables since each animal works or acts with the other. The story of the leopard and the guinea foul, the goat, dog and cow and lastly the chameleon and the lion brings out the aspect of dependency since one cannot live alone with out the other. The Study discovers that the Ganda fables personify and address animal characters with 'wa' as in 'Wakayima, Wa Nkofu' in order to personify them. Without the 'wa' it remains at the level of animalism. With the introduction of 'wa' it attains abilities of humans and hence elevated to the level of humans. What this strategy exploits so the build-up of imaginative power that the mind undergoes in transifuring non-humans to humans. This means that once the mind accepts that the non-human is a human, then the roles become sensible and worthwhile.The Study concludes by saying that Personification is a literary device that uses the non-literal use of language to convey concepts in a relatable way. Personification as used in the fables discussed in chapters two, three and four give human characteristics, such as emotions and behaviors, to non-human beings, animals and ideas.