What is personification and example?
Personification is when you give an object or animal human behaviors. An example of personification would be in the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle,” where “the little dog laughed to see such fun.”
What are 5 examples of personification?
Examples of Personification for KidsLightning danced across the sky.The wind howled in the night.The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition.Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name.My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every morning.More items...
What is the simple definition of personification?
Definition of personification 1 : attribution of personal qualities especially : representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form. 2 : a divinity or imaginary being representing a thing or abstraction. 3 : embodiment, incarnation.
What are 2 examples personification?
Personification examples“The sun smiled down on us.”'The story jumped off the page.”“The light danced on the surface of the water.”
Can you personify a dog?
Well, you're ascribing a human characteristic to a dog which is personification. On the other hand, if you came home and your dog pointed at the urine spot and said, "See what happens when you leave me home alone?" that's anthropomorphism.
How do we personify the sea?
Explanation: You can personify the ocean as a god, like the Greek god of the seas Poseidon. For example, The sea was an angry god and gave my face a salty slap as his tides, his demanding presence, rose dramatically.
What are some examples of personification in poetry?
Examples of Personification in Poetry:The breeze kissed my cheek.When I got home from school my dog smiled at me.The blanket wrapped its arms around me.Rays of sunshine danced through the trees.The chainsaw hummed a tune.
What does personification mean in poetry?
Personification is a poetic device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects, are given human qualities – resulting in a poem full of imagery and description.
What is personification in speech?
personification, figure of speech in which human characteristics are attributed to an abstract quality, animal, or inanimate object.
Which is the classic example of personification?
Basic Examples of Personification The stars winked in the night sky. Stars, having no eyes, cannot wink. But when you see this phrase, you know that they're twinkling. The bridge stretched over the interstate.
Can flying be used as personification?
People and objects can't fly, nor can they melt or spark. In these examples, personification is pulling attributes from other objects, as these lines evoke images of birds in flight and melting ice cream.
Which sentence uses personification?
Personification sentence example. He was the personification of evil. She is the personification of the earth suffering from drought, on which the fertilizing rain descends from heaven. Her bright and airy living room decor is the personification of spring.
What does "personification" mean?
personification. / ( pɜːˌsɒnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən) /. noun. the attribution of human characteristics to things, abstract ideas, etc, as for literary or artistic effect. the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc, as in art and literature. a person or thing that personifies.
What is Ted Nugent's personification?
In 1968, Ted Nugent was a lightning rod, a personification of transformational freedom. Quell is a feral creature; a personification of the Freudian id. Loud, overbearing, and unseemly, he is the very personification of the human id in a mock turtleneck and gold chain.
What is the personification of Gus in Fault in Our Stars?
Throughout Fault in Our Stars, Gus is the personification of strength and confidence. In 1968, Ted Nugent was a lightning rod, a personification of transformational freedom.
What is personification in writing?
Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human. Personification is a common form of metaphor in that human characteristics are attributed to nonhuman things. This allows writers to create life and motion within inanimate objects, animals, ...
Why is personification used in literature?
This is an effective use of figurative language because personification relies on imagination ...
What is the difference between personification and anthropomorphism?
However, there is a difference between these two literary devices. Anthropomorphism is when human characteristics or qualities are applied to animals or deities, not inanimate objects or abstract ideas. As a literary device, anthropomorphism allows an animal or deity to behave as a human. This is reflected in Greek dramas in which gods would appear and involve themselves in human actions and relationships.
Why is figurative language used in writing?
This is an effective use of figurative language because personification relies on imagination for understanding. Of course, readers know at a logical level that nonhuman things cannot feel, behave, or think like humans. However, personifying nonhuman things can be an interesting, creative, and effective way for a writer to illustrate a concept ...
What are some examples of personification?
Other such examples are Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, and Thomas the Tank Engine. Therefore, while anthropomorphism is limited to animals and deities, personification can be more widely applied as a literary device by including inanimate objects and abstract ideas.
What is the exercise of poetic skill?
Exercise Poetic Skill. Many poets rely on personification to create vivid imagery and memorable symbolism. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe ’s poem “ The Raven ,” the poet skillfully personifies the raven through allowing it to speak one word, “nevermore,” in response to the narrator’s questions.
What is the personification in Updike's poem?
However, the personification in Updike’s poem is a reflection of how Flick’s life has changed since he played and set records for his basketball team in high school. Flick’s fans have been replaced by packages of sugary snacks with little substance rather than real people appreciating his skills and cheering him on.
What is Personification?
Personification can be used for countless subjects and literary forms from poetry to screenwriting. But all personification falls under the same definition. More than just a clever way to bring inanimate objects to life, this writing technique can enrich description and imbue emotions in unexpected ways.
PERSONIFICATION DEFINITION
Personification is a literary device that gives human characteristics to nonhuman things or inanimate objects. The nonhuman things can be animals, objects, or even a concept. The human characteristics given to these things can be emotions, behaviors, or actions that bring nonhuman things to life.
What is an example of personification
Before we dive a bit deeper into its function it may be a little more helpful to look at a few personification examples. Personification is used throughout literature, movies, and everyday vernacular. Some examples of it are phrases:
What is personification used for?
Personification can be found throughout the history of literature. It evokes readers to use their imagination and its use can create depth and emotion to a story. To recap, take a look at this video that provides a personification literary definition and analyzes the function of it in literature.
UP NEXT
Personification is a great tool at relating and engaging an audience. Another literary device that can capture a reader’s attention is the metaphor. In our next article we define what a metaphor is as well as dive into some metaphor examples to better understand how they can elevate a story.
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What is personification in a sentence?
What is personification? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent to their plans.".
What are some examples of personification?
Personification typically involves bestowing a single human quality upon a non-human thing. For instance: 1 The rain was indifferent to their plans. 2 The waves winked in the sunlight. 3 The wind played hide-and-go-seek among the trees.
What is personification of a non-human thing?
Personifying a Non-Human Thing as a Complete Person. Personification typically involves bestowing a single human quality upon a non-human thing. For instance: The rain was indifferent to their plans. The waves winked in the sunlight. The wind played hide-and-go-seek among the trees.
Why do musicians use personification in their lyrics?
Musicians often use personification in their lyrics for the same type of poetic effect that the technique can have in a literary context. However, the musicians who wrote the following songs don’t just give non-human entities human attributes, but actually describe the entities as complete people.
Why is personification important in literature?
One reason is that it allows readers to develop a greater sense of relation to and identification with non-human entities. Attributing a human emotion to something inanimate—as in the sentence about "indifferent rain"—can make that thing easier to understand and more vivid in the reader's imagination, while at the same time presenting a significantly more complex description than is possible with the use of traditional adjectives like "wet" or "gray".
What is the difference between personification and anthropomorphism?
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to a non-human entity for the purpose of creating figurative language and imagery. Anthropomorphism, by contrast, is the literal attribution of human characteristics to animals and other non-human things , often for the purpose ...
Why do authors use personification?
Often, authors use personification to describe the hidden lives of objects as a way of calling the reader's attention to the underlying mood, conflicts, or themes of the novel —of which even the characters themselves may not be fully aware.
What does "personification" mean?
1. The act of personifying. 2. A person or thing typifying a certain quality or idea; an embodiment or exemplification: "He's invisible, a walking personification of the Negative" (Ralph Ellison). 3.
What is the definition of a person?
2. (Art Terms) the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc, as in art and literature. 3. a person or thing that personifies.
What is the personification of evil?
a person who is a perfect example of something: She played a character who was the personification of evil. They were creators, builders, the personification of everything that is good about America. Nemesis, in Greek mythology, is the personification of divine justice and the vengeance of the gods.
Is college a personification of youthful exuberance?
College is often viewed as a personification of youthful exuberance, but it's also tinged with a growing realization of adulthood. But - so the police were going to take down this one tent that everybody saw as, sort of, a personification and embodiment of, you know, our protest.
What is Personification?
Personification examples can be found everywhere, from film to prose to poetry. For example, think about how often you hear someone say that “the rain feels so good on my skin” or that “I love the smell of fresh snow.”
Why Do Writers Use Personification?
Telling a story with no personification can be difficult because it’s hard for readers to relate without ascribing human qualities to the characters and objects in your tale. When you use personification, you give everything in your story a sense of character and identity.
What is the Purpose of Using Personification?
Personification is a literary device that uses human qualities to describe nonhuman things. Personification may be used to:
Tips for Using Personification Effectively
Use it purposefully: Don’t use personification when your writing doesn’t need it. When you’re writing a scientific paper or an instruction manual, there’s no room for cute phrases like “mushrooming clouds” or “dancing leaves.” Don’t distract readers by adding something unnecessary to your writing.
Examples of Personification in Literature
Here are some famous examples that will help you understand this literary technique better.
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Definition of Personification
- Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human. Personification is a common form of metaphorin that human characteristics are attributed to nonhuman things. This allows writers to create life and motion within inanimate objects, animals, and even abstract...
Common Examples of Personification
- Here are some examples of personification that may be found in everyday expression: 1. My alarm yelled at me this morning. 2. I like onions, but they don’t like me. 3. The sign on the door insulted my intelligence. 4. My phone is not cooperating with me today. 5. That bus is driving too fast. 6. My computer works very hard. 7. However, the mail is running unusually slow this week. …
Examples of Personification in Speech Or Writing
- Here are some examples of personification that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: 1. My heart danced when he walked in the room. 2. The hair on my arms stood after the performance. 3. Why is your plant pouting in the corner? 4. The wind is whispering outside. 5. Additionally, that picture says a lot. 6. Her eyes are not smiling at us. 7. Also, my brain is not wor…
Famous Personification Examples
- Think you haven’t heard of any famouspersonification examples? Here are some well-known and recognizable titles and quotes featuring this figure of speech: Titles 1. “The Brave Little Toaster” (novelby Thomas M. Disch and adapted animated film series) 2. “This Tornado Loves You” (song by Neko Case) 3. “Happy Feet” (animated musical film) 4. “Time Waits for No One” (song by The …
Difference Between Personification and Anthropomorphism
- Personification is often confused with the literary term anthropomorphism due to fundamental similarities. However, there is a difference between these two literary devices. Anthropomorphism is when human characteristics or qualities are applied to animals or deities, not inanimate objects or abstract ideas. As a literary device, anthropomorphism allows an animal or deity to behave a…
Writing Personification
- Overall, as a literary device, personification functions as a means of creating imagery and connections between the animate and inanimate for readers. Therefore, personification allows writers to convey meaning in a creative and poetic way. These figures of speech enhance a reader’s understanding of concepts and comparisons, interpretations of symbols and themes, a…
Examples of Personification in Literature
- Example #1: The House on Mango Street
In the first chapter of Cisneros’s book, the narrator Esperanza is describing the house into which she and her family are moving. Her parents have promised her that they would find a spacious and welcoming home for their family, similar to what Esperanza has seen on television. Howeve… - Example #2: Ex-Basketball Player
In his poem about a former basketball player named Flick, Updike recreates an arena crowd watching Flick playpinball by personifying the candy boxes in the luncheonette. The snack containers “applaud” Flick as he spends his free time playing a game that is isolating and require…
Personification Definition
Personification Examples
- Examples of Personification in Literature
Writers use personification to create startling or whimsical visual images, which help to make the world of a book or poem all the more vivid in a reader's imagination. Often, authors use personification to describe the hidden lives of objects as a way of calling the reader's attention t… - Examples of Personification in Music
Musicians often use personification in their lyrics for the same type of poetic effect that the technique can have in a literary context. However, the musicians who wrote the following songs don’t just give non-human entities human attributes, but actually describe the entities as comple…
Why Do Writers Use personification?
- Writers use personification to create memorable images with language, allowing readers to experience works of literature more vividly. Depending on the text, however, a writer may have a more specific purpose for using personification. Consider Bluets, by Maggie Nelson, a book made up of short, numbered vignettes in which the author conducts a poetic form of "field research" o…
Other Helpful Personification Resources
- The Wikipedia Page on Personification: A straightforward explanationwith examples.
- The Dictionary Definition of Personification: A basic definition and history of the term. The word personificationwas first used in the mid 1700s.
- Personification on Vimeo and Youtube: