The Knowing Poem

The Knowledge That Is Obtained From A Strong Sense Of Self “[T]he re-invention of oneself through the tongues of whispering mountains” (Fife, lines 1-2). Throughout one's life, self-awareness is obtained. Whether it is through forming new friendships, witnessing groundbreaking events, or reading phenomenal books for the first time. One could even say, the journey to obtain self-awareness ends only when you die. In “The Knowing” by Connie Fife, she describes the common instances that can lead to self-awareness. By incorporating, detailed literary devices, Fife is able to develop the journey to self-awareness in life. Thus, throughout the poem, Fife utilizes personification to establish the idea that knowledge is obtained through a strong sense
Throughout one’s life, knowledge is acquired through life experiences. Whether big or small, these experiences shape the lives of every individual in this world. However, the most important experiences are those which aid in the development of a person’s sense of self. This can be exemplified in lines 31,32,33 and 34: “... a stranger who is leaning against (...) a cedar tree[,]while cars spit at her then mock her existence[.] [B]ecause she refuses to roll over on the sidewalk.”. To say “... cars spit at her then mock her existence...” personifies a car to have the same traits as a vulgar human being. Throughout these lines, a homeless woman is struggling on the side of the street. Then, despite all of the horrendous circumstances surrounding this woman’s life, the people passing are as rude to her as the circumstances in her life are.
For instance, cars are loud and dirty and must be continually looked after for them to function properly. Which, can easily be compared to a human being. Some people make others feel inferior to themselves, behave in crude and malicious manners and can take all the effort someone has, to be friends with them. These are not good people to be around. However, these people help one to advance in their journey to obtain a strong sense of self. This is so because when one realizes the people around them are hindering one’s life, knowledge is obtained. With this new awareness of one’s life, one’s sense of self increases. Therefore, through the knowledge of putting oneself before the interests of others, one’s sense of self increases. Furthermore, this can also be demonstrated in line 37: “... the recreating of ceremony at the hands of change...”. In this line, change is personified to have hands as a human being has. This highlights the fact that change is an otherworldly being in itself. As a human being, one’s hands facilitate most of one’s actions. Whether talking animately with one’s hands or writing an essay in English class, using one’s hands is a vital component of life. Thus, using personification in this line expresses the fact that change is as vital a component in one’s life as something as important as hands. This then correlates to gaining