Personification is a type of figurative language that gives human characteristics to nonhuman things. It helps writers create vivid pictures in the reader's mind by allowing objects, ideas, places, or animals to perform human actions or take on human qualities. Some examples of personification include describing a sailboat dancing across the water, flames eating at a burning house, and trees bending before a storm.

1. PERSONIFICATION
Human Characteristics

2. EXPLANATION
Sometimes a writer will give human
characteristics to nonhuman things.
Objects, ideas, places or animals
may be given human qualities. They
may perform human actions. This
type of figurative language is called
personification. It helps the writer
create an exciting picture in the
reader’s mind.
Map Tap Personification (figurative 2
language)

3. EXAMPLES:
• The sailboat danced gracefully
past us.
• The flames ate hungrily at the
burning house.
• The once-proud trees bent
meekly before the storm.
• The broad, flat rock lay sunning
itself by the stream.
Map Tap Personification (figurative 3
language)

4. PRACTICE
• Directions:
• Read the sentence, think about the
meaning, notice how personification
creates a word picture. Identify the
personification in each sentence.
4. The fog crept silently into the valley.
5. The tree fought the wind with its branches
6. The computer devoured information all day
long.
7. The hikers left the meadow and were
swallowed by the forest.
Map Tap Personification (figurative 4
language)

5. REVIEW
• Sometimes a writer will give human
characteristics to nonhuman things.
• Objects, ideas, places, or animals
may be given human qualities.
• They may perform human actions.
• This type of figurative language is
called personification.
Map Tap Personification (figurative 5
language)

6. USING
PERSONIFICATION
• Write three sentences that use
personification.
• Be sure to give some human quality
to some nonhuman thing.
• Choose one sentence and draw a
detailed picture that illustrates the
personification in the sentence.
Map Tap Personification (figurative 6
language)

7. HELPFUL HINTS
• To recognize personification:
2. Read the sentence carefully.
3. Try to see the meaning of the
words in your mind.
4. Notice how personification
creates a word picture and
makes the sentence more
interesting.
Map Tap Personification (figurative 7
language)