The main purpose of figurative language in “The Rider” by Naomi Shihab Nye is to convey how it’s possible to evade loneliness through rapid movements if the readers imagine the loneliness as an actual person. Through personification, the poet is able to depict loneliness as a competitor in roller-skating competition, where a person is attempting to outrun their loneliness. Beginning the poem, the poet starts with how a boy, who is implied to be a roller-skater, interacts with her, claiming “if he roller-skated fast enough/his loneliness couldn’t catch up with him” (2-3). Personification is used to portray loneliness as a fellow skater, competing to see if loneliness has the capabilities
The main purpose of figurative language in “The Rider” by Naomi Shihab Nye is to convey how it’s possible to evade loneliness through rapid movements if the readers imagine the loneliness as an actual person. Through personification, the poet is able to depict loneliness as a competitor in roller-skating competition, where a person is attempting to outrun their loneliness. Beginning the poem, the poet starts with how a boy, who is implied to be a roller-skater, interacts with her, claiming “if he roller-skated fast enough/his loneliness couldn’t catch up with him” (2-3). Personification is used to portray loneliness as a fellow skater, competing to see if loneliness has the capabilities