Zoomorphism is assigning animal-like qualities to humans, gods, and inanimate objects – Roopa Banerjee

Spiderman, Spiderman!
Does whatever a spider can.
Spins a web any size,
Catches thieves, just like flies.
Look out! Here comes the Spiderman!

Most of us are familiar with these catchy lines from the theme song of the cult Spiderman cartoon and movie series. But perhaps not so well known is that this song uses a popular literary device — zoomorphism — to attribute animal qualities to human beings.

Zoomorphism is giving animal-like qualities to humans, gods, inanimate objects as well as assigning features of one animal to another. For instance when a cat in a cartoon strip says ‘woof,’ it’s zoomorphism. However, when gods shape-shift and take on an animal form as it often happens in Greek mythology, it’s not zoomorphism but its sub-set known as therianthropy.

Some of us tend to get confused between zoomorphism and anthropomorphism (featured in PW June 2019). Whereas, they are exactly opposite. While anthropomorphism is assigning of human qualities to animals, zoomorphism does the reverse by giving animal qualities to humans.

Comic book writers have had a field day with this literary device as they have liberally ideated characters that are human but with animal qualities. Catwoman, Batman, Antman, Black Panther and Spiderman are just a few examples of myriad superheroes that have flowed out of writers’ pens using zoomorphisms.

Numerous authors have also used zoomorphism to emphasise danger and intimidation. In Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, the capital of Lord Asriel is described as a wild animal in a cage, and his daemon, which is the character that represents him, is dangerous and intimidating. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has many characters that can shape shift and turn into animals. Sirius Black turns into a dog in order to accompany Harry unnoticed to the railway station while Professor McGonagall transforms into a tabby cat while teaching the class about Animagi (wizards who can transform at will into animals). In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus and his men meet Circe the goddess of magic who lures them to a grand feast. The food is laced with deadly potions and the men transform into swine.

Zoomorphism is often used in common parlance. For instance “she was barking up the wrong tree” by doubting him; “he was champing at the bit” at the beginning of the meeting; and the government “ruffled some feathers” by going ahead with the new resolution. Phrases such as ‘fluttering of the heart’ (bird) and ‘like the roar of the ocean’ (beast) are also zoomorphisms.

Architecture has also taken a few leaves from the book of zoomorphism by creating buildings or cities bearing semblance to animals. For instance, the city of Juba in South Sudan resembles the shape of a rhinoceros.

Exercise

1. Which of these is an example of zoomorphism?
A. Wolverine
B. Superman
C. Thor

2. Which animal does James Potter transform into in the Harry Potter series?
A Beetle
B Stag
C Horse

3. What animal does Lamia turn into in John Keat’s eponymous poem?
A Dove
B Deer
C Snake

Answers:
1-A 2-B 3-C

Also read: What is a PALINDROME?