Literary devices examples from the Hot Zone: Richard preston

Preston presents the Marburg virus as a true antagonist of the narrative. Instead of describing the virus and its symptoms in strictly clinical terms, Preston employs the literary technique of personification as a way to immediately establish the virus’s role in the book. He writes, “Having destroyed its host, the hot agent is now coming out of every orifice, and is ‘trying’ to find a new host.” As a result of this technique, Preston is able to present the virus as being actively engaged in the destruction of Monet’s personality and physical body.