Question

prompt:
oger ceased to be a pig and became a hunter, so that the center of the ring yawned emptily.\ what is the effect of the words \yawned emptily\ in this line? what does it indicate about the nature of the circle the boys made?

Explanation:

"Yawned emptily" is personification. It gives the center of the ring (the circle) human - like action (yawning). An empty yawn implies a lack of real emotion or purpose. In the context of the boys' circle, it indicates that the circle is no longer a place of innocence (like when they were pretending to hunt a "pig" in a more innocent play). Now that Roger has "become a hunter", the circle is a symbol of their descent into savagery. The emptiness suggests that the initial, perhaps more innocent, group dynamic (like when they were just playing) has been replaced by a more menacing and hollow (in terms of moral value) structure.

Answer:

The phrase "yawned emptily" uses personification to create a sense of desolation and lack of meaning. It indicates that the circle the boys made has lost its initial, perhaps more innocent, nature and has become a symbol of their descent into a more savage and morally empty state.