Personification in Poetry Definition, Uses & Examples

Lesson Overview

• What Is Personification?
• How to Use Personification
• How to Identify Personification
• Distinguishing Personification from Other Figurative Language
• Personification Assessment

Personification is a literary device that helps create vivid imagery, evoke emotions, and make the ordinary seem extraordinary. By giving human traits to non-human entities, we can better understand and connect with the world around us.

Personification appears in various forms of writing, from poetry and prose to everyday language. It adds depth and creativity to our expression, making our words more engaging and memorable.

What Is Personification?

Personification is a figure of speech in which inanimate objects, abstract concepts, or non-human entities are given human qualities or characteristics. This literary device gives life by imbuing the non-human with human actions, thoughts, or feelings.

Key Elements:

• Assigning human qualities like emotions, thoughts, senses, or physical actions to non-human entities.
• Personification is not meant to be taken literally; it is a form of figurative language used for creative expression.

Example:

• "The wind whispered through the trees."

Here, the wind, a natural phenomenon, is given the human ability to whisper.

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Personification Quiz Questions and Answers

How to Use Personification

Personification is a powerful tool for enhancing your writing, but it's important to use it thoughtfully and purposefully.

• Choose the Right Subject
  
  • Select objects, animals, or ideas that have qualities that can be easily associated with human traits. 

For example, a roaring river can be personified as angry, or a gentle breeze as playful.

• Ensure the personification aligns with the overall tone and mood of the writing. A somber poem might use personification to describe a weeping willow tree, while a lighthearted story might personify a mischievous squirrel. 

• Select Verbs and Adjectives
  
  • Use verbs that imply human action, such as whispering, dancing, laughing, frowning, or sighing. This creates a sense of animation and personality.
    
  • Employ adjectives that suggest human emotions or characteristics, such as lonely, joyful, angry, gentle, or wise.
    
• Create Connections
  
  • Use personification to create unexpected and thought-provoking connections between the human and non-human world.
    
    For example, "The old house groaned under the weight of the snow".
    
  • Develop the personification beyond a single phrase or sentence. Explore the implications of the human qualities, creating a richer and more layered image.
    
• Maintain Clarity and Purpose
  
  • While personification can be effective, using it excessively can make your writing seem forced or cliché. Use it sparingly and strategically to maximize its impact. 
    
  • Ensure the personification contributes to the overall message or theme of your writing. It should enhance the meaning and not distract from it.
    
    

How to Identify Personification

Personification can be subtle or overt, adding depth and nuance to language. To identify personification, we need to develop a keen eye for recognizing human qualities attributed to non-human entities.

• Look for Action Verbs:
  
  • Identify verbs that typically describe human actions. If these verbs are used in relation to non-human entities, it's likely personification.

Examples:

The wind whispered secrets.
The trees danced in the breeze.
The sun smiled down on the earth.
The waves crashed angrily against the shore.  

• Identify Emotive Adjectives:
  
  • Look for adjectives that describe human emotions or personality traits. When these are used to describe non-human entities, it suggests personification.

Examples:

The lonely mountain.
The joyful song of the birds.
The angry storm.
The wise old owl.

• Analyze Figurative Language:
  
  • Pay attention to metaphors and similes that compare non-human entities to humans. These comparisons often signal personification.  

Examples:

The river snaked through the valley like a silver ribbon. (simile)
The old house was a grumpy giant overlooking the town. (metaphor)

• Consider the Context:
  
  • The context of the sentence or passage can help determine if personification is being used. If the description creates a sense of human-like agency or emotion in a non-human entity, it's likely personification.

Example:

"The fire devoured the forest with insatiable hunger."

In this context, the fire is not literally eating, but the verb "devoured" gives it a human-like quality of consuming with intense desire.

• Look for Sensory Details:
  
  • Personification often involves assigning human sensory experiences to non-human entities.

Examples: 

The flowers listened to the music.
The stars watched over the sleeping world.
The old car felt the strain of the long journey.

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How do you know Personification Quiz

Distinguishing Personification from Other Figurative Language

Figurative language enriches our communication, but it's important to recognize the differences between other devices.

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Simile, Metaphor, Personification And Alliteration Quiz

Personification Assessment

Exercise 1. Read each sentence carefully and determine whether it uses personification. If it does, write "Yes." If it doesn't, write "No."

1. The wind howled through the trees.
2. The car sputtered and coughed before coming to a stop.
3. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
4. The clock ticked loudly, impatiently counting down the seconds.
5. The birds sang a beautiful song.
6. The mountains stood tall and proud, guarding the valley.
7. The river rushed towards the ocean.

Answers:

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No
4. Yes
5. No
6. Yes
7. No
   

Exercise 2: Underline the verb in each sentence that shows personification.

1. The leaves danced in the wind.
2. The old house groaned under the weight of the snow.
3. The sun smiled down on the happy children.
4. The storm clouds marched across the sky.
5. The waves whispered secrets to the shore.
6. The trees stretched their branches towards the sunlight.
7. The flowers nodded their heads in the breeze.

Answers:

1. danced
2. groaned
3. smiled
4. marched
5. whispered
6. stretched
7. nodded

Exercise 3: Complete each sentence by choosing the most appropriate word from the word box to create personification.

Word Box:

Sentences:

1. The wind ________ secrets through the tall grass.
2. The old, abandoned house _______ in the darkness.
3. The willow tree _______ over the pond, its branches dipping into the water.
4. The sunflowers _______ joyfully in the summer breeze.
5. The thunder _______ across the sky, announcing the approaching storm.
6. The mountains _______ the valley, protecting it from the harsh winds.
7. The rain clouds _______, releasing a torrent of tears.

Answers:

1. whispered
2. yawned
3. embraced
4. danced
5. marched
6. guarded
7. wept

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Final Test: Similes, Metaphors & Personification