What type of figurative language is used on page 83, "We killed time by reading Gone with the Wind and playing poker." Interpret the meaning?

Personification.

It means to pass the time.

Explanation:

Figurative language is the use of different forms of describing events or things to make it more appealing or meaningful. It is like providing details or describing things in such a way that their meaning and implications are easily understood and clearly achieved. These figurative languages are of many types - metaphor, simile, personification, etc.

The given sentence or phrase from page 83 of The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton uses the figurative language of personification. Personification is giving human attributes to an abstract thought or idea of a thing, making it seem like a living human with feelings.

Pony and Johnny were hiding in the old church after Johnny killed Bob. And while they have to hide, they also needed to keep themselves entertained. So Johnny went and got the book Gone with the Wind to pass the time. The common saying "kill the time" means to pass the time, for killing time is not physically / literally possible. Thus, this attribution of human characters to abstract things signifies personification.