Explain and list some metaphors and personifications used in the story “Her First Ball" that create a mood and atmosphere of excitement?

Figurative language, such as metaphors which make implied
unusual comparisons between unlike things and personification, which gives inanimate objects
human-like characteristics, lends imaginative description to a narrative as well as
embellishment. In Katherine Mansfield's short story, "Her First Ball" the use of figurative
language helps to suggest the magical feel that the night contains for Leila, who has come to the
city for her first formal dance. With her nearest neighbor being fifteen miles away, the prospect
of being among so many of her age is, indeed, exciting to Leila. Below are some examples of
metaphor and personification which serve so well to create the atmosphere of this
excitement:

Metaphor

"...smoothing
marble-white gloves." [an implied comparison of the gloves to
marble]

"The azaleas
were...pink and white flags streaming
by."

"She was only at the beginning of
everything..." [Leila's experience at the dance is compared to the beginning of
her adult life and all it will include.]

"The lights,
the azaleas, the dresses, the pink faces, the velvet chairs, all became
one beautiful flying wheel. [The lights, etc. are compared to a
"flying
wheel."]

Personification

As
Leila and her cousins travel the road to the ball, "little satin shoes
chased each other like birds." [The shoes are given qualities that
only an animate creature can do with the word
chased.]

"A great quivering jet of gas lighted
the ladies' room. It could'nt wait; it was dancing already. When the
door opened again...it leaped almost to the
ceiling."

"...little quivering colored
flags strung across the ceiling were talking." [animate qualities
are in bold]

"It seemed to her that she had never know what the
night was like before. Up till now it had been dark, silent, beautiful very often--oh, yes--but
mournful somehow. Solemn.....it had
opened dazzling bright." [animate
qualities]

"At that the music seemed to change; it sounded sad, sad
it rose upon a great sigh...."

"But
presently a soft, melting, ravishing tune
began...