Here, he gives the building human emotions and characteristics, comparing it to an animal that is shocked by what has occurred. This allows readers to gain a better understanding of the horror and sadness felt in this particular moment. Furthermore, he states: “…the building looks out at us like one who has been struck unexpectedly in the mouth…” < br >This comparison helps emphasize how sudden and unexpected war can feel for those involved in it. Personification can also be seen in lines such as “it stares blankly into space / as if amazed it escaped so lightly from death’s grasp.” By giving life-like qualities to the building, Collins allows his audience to put themselves in its place and imagine how they would feel if they had been through something similar. This further adds depth to his poem as readers are able to sympathize with its subject matter on an emotional level. Overall, personification is used throughout “Building With Its Face Blown Off” to help give readers a more detailed description of war's devastation while simultaneously eliciting feelings of empathy towards those affected by it.

Sample Solution

In his poem “Building With Its Face Blown Off,” Billy Collins uses personification to create a vivid image of the destruction caused by war. He writes: “The building with its face blown off stands like an animal stunned by the shock of what has happened here….”