PERSONIFICATION
Definition: A figure of speech that gives animals, ideas, and inanimate objects with human-like qualities such as figure of speech, character traits, or mental awareness.
Hint: Personifications are commonly used to create vivid descriptions of ordinary events or objects in life.
Simple Example:
The object being personified here is the ocean waves, it is describing how the storm created powerful waves that 'lashed out' at the boat. The ocean can’t choose to “lash” like a human.
Sophisticated Example:
(Chapter 1, pg. 15.5 of Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird; c. 1960)
The object being personified here is the house, its decaying appearance is personified as “droopy and sick”.
Don't confuse personification with anthropomorphism!
Hint: Personifications are commonly used to create vivid descriptions of ordinary events or objects in life.
Simple Example:
- The ocean waves lashed out at the boat.
The object being personified here is the ocean waves, it is describing how the storm created powerful waves that 'lashed out' at the boat. The ocean can’t choose to “lash” like a human.
Sophisticated Example:
- The house was the same, droopy and sick, but as we stared down the street we thought we saw an inside shutter move. Flick. A tiny, almost invisible movement and the house was still.
(Chapter 1, pg. 15.5 of Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird; c. 1960)
The object being personified here is the house, its decaying appearance is personified as “droopy and sick”.
Don't confuse personification with anthropomorphism!