Usage and Examples of Personification
Vedantu provides a clear overview of Personification, a literary technique where human qualities are given to non-human things. This method helps make writing more interesting and relatable by referring human emotions or actions to objects, animals. By using personification, writers can create more engaging and expressive descriptions, helping students connect more deeply with the text. We often use Personification in poetry and prose to add depth and creativity to writing. Understanding personification will improve your ability to write more interesting and creative stories.
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What is Personification?
Personification is a way of describing non-human things by giving them human qualities. This technique can also be used to make ideas or concepts seem like people.
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, personification means showing objects or qualities as if they were human in art and literature. The Cambridge Dictionary describes it as giving human traits to things that aren’t human.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines personification as showing objects or ideas as if they were people. The Collins Dictionary explains that it involves giving human traits to things or ideas, often for artistic or literary purposes.
Definition of Personification
Personification is when you describe something non-human by giving it human qualities. For instance, if you say “the wind whispered,” you’re giving the wind a human-like action. This makes it easier to relate to and imagine. Personification is used to make writing more vivid and engaging by making objects, animals, or ideas seem as if they have human traits or emotions. It helps bring scenes to life and adds a creative touch to descriptions.
How to Use a Personification in a Sentence: Important Points to Remember
Personification Figure of Speech helps make descriptions clearer and adds deeper meaning by giving human traits to objects or ideas.
It is more of a creative tool and isn’t suitable for formal essays, professional writing, or when you need to convey something literally.
When using personification, make sure it fits well with your sentence. Like other figures of speech, it should only be used when it adds value.
Personification Sentences can help readers connect with characters, whether human or non-human, in your writing. Just be careful to use the right words to clearly express what you mean.
Personification Examples
Here are some examples of personification from literature:
Example 1
Emily Dickinson's - "Because I Could Not Stop for Death":
"Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me."
Example 2
William Blake's - "Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room":
"Ah, William, we’re weary of weather,”
said the sunflowers, shining with dew."
Example 3
Oscar Wilde's - "Magdalen Walks":
"And the plane to the pine-tree is whispering some tale of love."
Example 4
Patricia A. Flemming's - "A Miracle to Behold":
"The seagulls soar above her surf."
Example 5
Sylvia Plath's - "Mirror":
"I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions."
Example 6
William Shakespeare's - "Romeo and Juliet":
"Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon."
Example 7
William Shakespeare's - "A Midsummer Night's Dream":
"The moon methinks looks with a watery eye."
Example 8
Ben Jonson's - "Every Man in His Humour":
"It is my want speaks, not myself."
Personification Examples Sentences
Here are some easy examples of Personification of what we see in our everyday life. These examples show how personification appears in common situations around us.
The alarm clock is given the ability to yell, like a person.
The traffic lights seemed to tease me, as if they were enjoying making me wait.
The waves are described as if they can play and move around.
The computer is described as if it can be annoying, like a person.
The sun is given the ability to smile, like a person.
Test Your Knowledge on Personification
Here are some questions that helps to test your knowledge on Personification:
Draw a picture of an object or animal that has been given human qualities. Label the parts of your drawing with the qualities you’ve used?
Take a list of plain sentences and rewrite them using personification. For example, change "The wind was strong" to "The wind roared through the trees."
Can you give an example of personification from a poem or story?
Write a short story where personification plays a key role in developing the plot or setting.
Identify the personification in this sentence: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees."
Here you go—Check if your answers match the ones below!
1.
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2. Plain Sentence: The rain fell heavily.
Personified Sentence: The rain pounded on the roof like it was angry.
3. In Emily Dickinson's poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," Death is described as if he is a kind person who stops for the poet.
4. Title: The Lonely Lamp
In a quiet, empty house, an old lamp named Lila sat alone. The house had once been filled with laughter and warmth, but now it was silent and dusty. Lila’s light flickered sadly, feeling abandoned.
One day, a gentle breeze whispered, "Don’t worry, someone will come soon." The next morning, a new family moved in, and little Emma immediately noticed Lila. She turned the lamp on, saying, "Hello, old friend. Let’s light up this house!"
Lila’s light shone brightly, filling the room with warmth and joy. The house came alive with the family’s laughter, and Lila’s glow became a symbol of happiness and new beginnings.
5. The wind is given the human action of whispering secrets, which is personification.
Takeaways from Personification
Here are some key points that one can learn from this article
Personification helps bring objects and ideas to life by giving them human qualities, making descriptions more interesting.
It can express feelings and moods in a story or poem by making things like the weather or objects seem emotional.
Using personification can make scenes more vivid and easier to picture in your mind.
By making non-human things seem relatable, personification helps readers connect better with the text.
It adds a creative touch to writing, making it more engaging and enjoyable to read.
FAQs on Personification: Giving Human Traits to Non-Human Things
1. What does personification mean?
Personification is when you describe non-human things with human qualities, like saying "The wind whispered."
2. Why do writers use Personification poetic devices?
Writers use personification to make their writing more vivid and relatable, helping readers to imagine and connect with the story.
3. Can you give Personification examples sentences?
"The sun smiled down on us" is an example of personification because it gives the sun a human action.
4. How does personification help in storytelling?
It helps by making scenes more lively and by showing emotions and actions of things that aren't alive, which adds depth to the story.
5. Is personification used only in poetry?
No, personification is used in both poetry and prose, including stories and everyday language.
6. How can I find personification in a text?
Look for descriptions where non-human things are given human traits or actions, like talking, feeling, or moving.
7. Can personification make a story more enjoyable?
Yes, it can make a story more enjoyable by adding creativity and making the writing more engaging and fun.
8. How can I use personification in my writing?
You can use personification by describing objects or ideas as if they have human feelings or actions, like saying “The tired old house sighed.”
9. What is the purpose of personification in poetry?
In poetry, personification helps create vivid images and convey emotions in a way that connects deeply with readers.
10. Can personification be overused?
Yes, using too much personification can make writing feel unrealistic or cluttered. It’s best to use it where it enhances the meaning.
11. How can Personification figure of speech change the way we understand a story?
It can give new meaning and make abstract ideas or emotions more relatable by making them seem alive and personal.
12. Are there famous examples of personification in literature?
Yes, many famous works use personification, like in Shakespeare’s plays or Emily Dickinson’s poems.
13. Can personification be used in everyday conversation?
Yes, we often use personification in everyday speech, like saying "My car doesn’t like the cold" to describe car troubles in a relatable way.
14. How does personification differ from metaphors or similes?
Personification specifically gives human traits to non-human things, while metaphors and similes compare things directly or indirectly to other things.
