The whole idea of it makes me feel

Question

like I'm coming down with something,
something worse than any stomach ache
or the headaches I get from reading in bad light--
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche,
a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.

But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I could shine.
But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life,
I skin my knees. I bleed.

Can someone find me one way how the author’s use of figurative language helps to develop that theme.

I have to use three examples and I already have my other 2 .
Personification and Metaphor

Answer 1

Which lines did you use for example(s) of personification?

Which lines did you use for example(s) of metaphor?

Answer 2

For personification I used
"a kind of measles of the spirit"

For metaphor I used
"But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life, I skin my knees"

Then I explained them, now I just need one more and the I have to explain how he used the figurative language in order to develop the theme. And the theme is " How horrible the author thinks growing up is"
I just got stuck, I understand this.But at times you just need a little help.

Answer 3

*then I have to

Answer 4

Why aren't you using all three of these lines for personification?
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche,
a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

What term could you apply to these two lines?
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.

Answer 5

Because I didn't want to give examples for all three lines. I can do that however.
and RHYTHM & RHYME, see i don't know..?

Answer 6

Why would you need to give examples for all three lines? Those three lines ARE the EXAMPLES of the use of personification!

----------------
"simplicity" and "complexity" are opposites.
Think about this:
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/juxtaposition.html
(from http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/ )

Answer 7

NEVERMIND.
What I mean by giving examples
is I have to explain what he means by
each of
1 a kind of measles of the spirit,
2 a mumps of the psyche,
3 a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE ALLLL personification.

ah thank you.. I can tell that you are getting upset with me.
Thanks for your help however.

Answer 8

No, not upset!

It just would make sense to use all three lines since spirit, psyche, and soul are synonymous and measles, mumps, and chicken pox are all considered childhood diseases.

Good luck with your paper!