Figurative Language

Personification

Personification

• \pər-ˌsä-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən\

Example #1

• The sun smiled warmly down on the earth.

Example #2

• The leaves danced in the wind.

Example #3

• The tree offered its fruit with outstretched arms.

Example #4

• The sky smashed the city with its fists of lightning.

So What is Personification?

• Personify• Root: Person• Suffix: ify (to make; ex. Beautify,

simplify, justify)• Suffix: ation (in the state of;

starvation; invitation)

Personification

• Personification is giving human qualities to animals or objects.

• A form of metaphor in which animals, ideas, things, etc., are represented as having human qualities

• A figure of speech in which human traits are given to non-human things

VegetariansVegetarians are cruel unthinking people. Everybody knows that carrots scream when they are grated That a peach bleeds when torn apart. Do you believe an orange insensitive to thumbs gouging out its flesh? That tomatoes spill their brains painlessly? Potatoes, skinned alive and boiled, the soil’s little lobsters. Don’t tell me it doesn’t hurt when peas are ripped from their overcoats, the hide flayed off sprouts, cabbage shredded, onions beheaded. Throw in the towel and lay down the hoe. Mow no more. Let my people go!

- Roger McGough

Personification QuestionsInstructions: For each of the following sentences identify

the object being personified AND the human trait it is given.

• 1. The wind sang her mournful song through the falling leaves.

• 2. The video camera observed the whole scene.• 3. The rain kissed my cheeks as it fell.• 4. The daffodils nodded their yellow heads at the

walkers.• 5. The water beckoned invitingly to the hot

swimmers.• 6. The snow whispered as it fell to the ground

during the early morning hours.• 7. The china danced on the shelves during the

earthquake.• 8. The car engine coughed and sputtered when it

started during the blizzard.

Create Your Own…