The wind. It is one of God’s great gifts to us and we are all aware of its presence and ability to affect our lives. Whether the wind is a gentle zephyr that caresses your cheeks or a wild gale that rattles the windows of your home, we notice and appreciate its energy. But how do we describe the wind in creative writing? It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and for good reason; a still image from a video of a windy day can bring the wind to life and show how its energy can affect nature and people. But there is more than one kind of writing and more than one way to describe the wind; you may not want to limit yourself to one style or one way of speaking about it. This article will explore several methods of conveying the power of the wind in your writing and if you are looking to include more than one way to say something, then this article is for you.
Thematic Analysis
A thematic analysis is a type of literary analysis that examines a text from a viewpoint of a particular theme or subjects. The wind is undoubtedly a theme that can be examined through the lens of literature, and those who have read literary critics may recognize the name of the author William Carlos Williams when he coined the term ‘the little death’. The little death is a figure of speech used by Williams to reference the epilogue of his classic text, ‘The Great Gatsby’ – a phrase that is now used to describe someone or something being cut short due to loss or tragedy. Williams’ interest in mortality is a recurring theme throughout his body of work and in his essay ‘The Future of English Poetry’, he states, “I think there is an immense richness in the language which we are not exploring; an unexplored wealth of imagery and metaphor which has the power to overthrow our conventional ideas and assumptions.”
While examining the theme of mortality in the context of The Great Gatsby, the reader is left to wonder about the fates of the central characters. Does Daisy truly love Gatsby or is she using him for his money and social standing? Has Tom lost his love for Myrtle and how will their unconventional relationship develop in the future? These are some of the questions that a thematic analysis of ‘The Great Gatsby’ can answer, and with writing and reading this text, you will be exposed to this special kind of literary analysis that looks not only at the words on the page but also at the context in which they are found.
Metaphor
Metaphor is the use of one word or phrase to mean something different from what it means in its literal, factual sense. It is a type of simile where the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ are used to make a comparison between two unlike things. If we think about the wind as a metaphor for something, you can compare the wind to a spirit or to an idea. The metaphor enables the creative writer to explore thoughts and feelings that may not fit comfortably into the context of the story being told. As with any good metaphor, the author has to work hard to create an image in the reader’s mind that is as strong and vivid as a real experience. If the author is fortunate enough, that image will bring the metaphorical meaning to life and imbue the text with a deeper sense of realism.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the use of multiple repetitions of the same phoneme or morpheme to create a rhythm or pattern in a piece of writing. The repetition of similar or identical sounds or syllables in different words or phrases serves to emphasize the words or phrases that are being repeated. In English, alliteration is often used to create emphasis by overlapping the sounds of similar or identical words to form polyphonic words or phrases. For example, the phrase ‘a whirlwind of activity’ is made up of three overlapping words: ‘wind’, ‘whirlwind’, and ‘activity’. If alliteration is used properly, it can add a rhythmic flourish to a piece of writing and draw the reader into the text more easily.
The repetition of words can also be used to create a pattern or rhythm that evokes the mood of a musical instrument to evoke a sense of rhythm or tune in the reader. If you want your writing to have an emphasis on rhythm and melody, then alliteration is a tool that you can use to great effect. For more information on this technique, check out our guide to creative writing.
Personification
To personify a force or thing is to make it human or animal-like rather than purely abstract or neutral. To personify the wind, you can compare its energy to that of a human or to an animal such as a bull or a horse. The human elements in a personification can be physical appearance, skills, or mindset. When used effectively, personification can add a layer of interpretation to a text that is richer and more nuanced than the original meaning would suggest. It can help the creative writer to examine the human condition from a vantage point that is not purely physical or intellectual but incorporates the emotions and frailties that all humans share.