Personification is a figure of speech that gives human qualities or abilities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. It allows readers to better understand a situation by creating a mental image of it. Examples include describing a kettle singing when boiling water, a heart sinking with disappointment, or sunlight caressing a face. Personification is used to convey emotions, sensations, and reactions in a vivid, imaginative way.

1. Personification

2. What is
Personification?
It is a figure of speech
where an inanimate
object is given human
qualities or abilities

3. Purpose
Readers can create a
mental image and get a
clearer understanding of
a situation, the meaning
of something or the
writer’s thoughts and
feelings.

4. For example:
The kettle sung as the
water was boiled.
 Kettles cannot sing in real life.
The inanimate object personified
refers to the kettle, and the
human ability it has in this
sentence is to sing.
The writer thinks that the kettle
made a melodious or pleasant
sound when the water was
being boiled in it

5. My heart sank when I
received my poor results.
Refers to how disappointed or
depressed the writer is upon knowing
how badly he/she has done in the
examinations.
My heart screamed when
the car sped towards me.
Refers to the extreme fear the writer
was feeling when he/she thought the
car was going to crash into him/her.
VIEs for 8 May 2013

6. The sun smiled through the
clouds after the rain was
gone.
Refers to how brightly the sun shone
after the rain has stopped.
The sunlight glared at me
the moment I opened my
eyes reluctantly.
Refers to how the sunlight made the
writer feel uncomfortable when
he/she woke up.
VIEs for 9 May 2013

7. Her answer slapped me in the
face when I asked her to be
my girlfriend.
Refers to how her answer came as a
nasty shock to the writer.
The truth slapped me in the
face when I realised he has
been lying to me all along
Refers to how the truth has been
shocking and undesirable to the
VIEs for 10 May 2013

8. My muscles screamed in pain
after I had lifted those weights.
Refers to how exhausted or painful
the writer’s muscles are.
My mind muttered a silent
prayer as I waited for my
results to be announced.
Refers to the writer feeling desperate
for the situation to end up for the
better, in this case, for good results.
VIEs for 21 May 2013

9. The tyres screeched as he
sped down the expressway.
Refers to how the sound made by the
tyres are loud, ear-piercing and
unpleasant like a human being.
The water bottle leapt off
the table.
Refers to how the water bottle has
fallen off the table.
VIEs for 22 May 2013

10. The questions in the
examination paper mocked
me.
Refers to how the questions seem to
be laughing at how the writer was
unable to answer them.
My results scorned at me.
Refers to how looking at the results
the writer feel ashamed or
embarrassed.
VIEs for 27 May 2013

11. The trees danced in the
wind.
Refers to the happy sight of the trees
swaying when the wind blows.
The sunlight caressed my
face as I walked to school.
Refers to how the sunlight gently
shines on the writer’s face.
VIEs for 28 May 2013

12. I felt the darkness
creeping on to me.
Refers to how frightened the writer is
when he/she encountered darkness.
Her happiness walked out of
the door when her boyfriend of
ten years dumped her.
Refers to how her happiness has
been taken away.
VIEs for 29 May 2013

13. After dinner was served, the
knife rested by the sink.
Refers to how the knife was left
untouched after dinner.
Opportunity may
knock, but it seldom nags.
Refers to how opportunity comes by
but it does not wait for one to take it
up.
VIEs for 30 May 2013

14. Far out into the
distance, the water held
hands with the sky.
Refers to the horizon where the sea
appears to have merged with the sky.
Mother nature sighed as
Earth felt the wound.
Refers to how Mother Nature is sad
that Earth is being damaged from
pollution.
VIEs for 31 May 2013