Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

When does anthropomorphism enhance the narrative?

1. When it diminishes character development

2. When nonhuman characters exhibit human qualities

3. When it creates ambiguity

4. When it slows down the plot

The correct answer is: When nonhuman characters exhibit human qualities

In narrative contexts, anthropomorphism enhances the storytelling when nonhuman characters exhibit human qualities. This technique allows readers to relate to these characters on a more personal level, as they can project human emotions and experiences onto them. For instance, a talking animal in a story that displays feelings, reasoning, or social behaviors similar to humans can engage the audience more deeply, helping to draw them into the narrative and make the themes more accessible. This engagement can also facilitate moral lessons or reflections on human nature by paralleling the nonhuman character's experiences with human experiences. By presenting nonhuman entities with relatable struggles, desires, or personality traits, the narrative becomes richer and can resonate more profoundly with readers. Thus, anthropomorphism serves to connect audiences with the story emotionally, promoting understanding and empathy in a way that might not be as effective with purely human characters.