Personification

Personification, the technique of giving of human-like qualities to animals or inanimate objects, is used often throughout this novel. The old loblolly pine is one specific tree that appears to have its own thought system and the ability to direct its own course of action. Words like “never” and “wrong” are also given human-like qualities.

The trees of the forest as a whole are personified in that they are given the roles of being the keepers of stories. The novel indicates that if humans just knew how to listen to these different kinds of trees and the noises they make, they would be able to hear stories of all the things the trees have seen and what they know. In addition to knowing the stories of long ago, the trees are also credited with spreading news — like the naming of the kittens — through the forest.

One...