2.1.4

Personification

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Personification

Personification is when you give human characteristics to something non-human to create imagery.

Moaning wind

Moaning wind

  • The frosty wind moaned.
    • In this phrase, you are creating an image of the wind making a moaning sound. This is personification because moaning is a human action – the noise is produced from a human mouth. The wind cannot physically produce a moan.
Groaning stairs

Groaning stairs

  • The stairs groaned under the weight of the huge monstrosity.
    • In this phrase, you are creating an image of the stairs making a groaning sound. This is personification because groaning is a human action – the noise is produced from a human mouth. Therefore, the stairs cannot actually produce a groan.
Clawing tree branches

Clawing tree branches

  • The tree branches clawed at her face as she ran past.
    • In this phrase, you are creating an image of the trees making a choice to reach out their branches and claw at the woman’s face. This is personification because clawing is a human action and usually requires a conscious decision – trees cannot actually make the decision to claw at people.

Tips for Using Personification

Personification is when you give human characteristics to something non-human to create imagery.

Focus on the image

Focus on the image

  • Focus on the image you are trying to create.
    • What are you describing and what human quality do you think would suit it?
Consider tone/atmosphere

Consider tone/atmosphere

  • Consider what kind of tone/atmosphere you are trying to create – for example, if you want to create a positive, happy setting, then you might not want the trees in your sentences to be ‘clawing’ at people. Instead, you could have the leaves ‘tickling’ or ‘caressing’ your skin as you pass them.
Choose vocabulary carefully

Choose vocabulary carefully

  • Your choice of vocabulary is vital in creating your language devices effectively.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terms

1.1

Key Terms

1.1.1Key Terms - Nouns, Verbs & Sentences1.1.2Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types1.1.3Key Terms - Words, Sounds & Language1.1.4Key Terms - Types of Language1.1.5Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood1.1.6Key Terms - Mood & Feelings1.1.7Key Terms - Other Techniques1.1.8End of Topic Test - Key Terms
2

Language Devices

2.1

Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors2.1.2Similes2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning2.1.4Personification2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy2.1.6Puns & Oxymorons2.1.7Hyperbole & Emotive Language2.1.8Alliteration2.1.9Sibilance2.1.10Onomatopoeia2.1.11Recap: Language Devices2.1.12End of Topic Test - Language Devices
3

Writing Structure

3.1

Writing Structure

3.1.1Narrators3.1.2Paragraphs3.1.3Tense3.1.4Present vs Past vs Future Tense3.1.5Foreshadowing3.1.6Structure3.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Structure
4

Section B: Reading & Writing

4.1

Writing Formats

4.1.1Letter4.1.2Reports & Essays4.1.3Journal/Diary Entry4.1.4Speech4.1.5Newspaper Article4.1.6Leaflet4.1.7Review4.1.8Travel Writing4.1.9End of Topic Test - Writing Formats
4.2

Writing to...

4.2.1Writing to Inform4.2.2Writing to Inform - Example4.2.3Writing to Explain4.2.4Writing to Explain - Example4.2.5Writing to Persuade4.2.6Writing to Persuade - Example4.2.7Writing to Argue4.2.8Writing to Argue - Example4.2.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue4.2.10Writing to Advise4.2.11Writing to Advise - Example4.2.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
4.3

Acronym of Techniques - DAFORESTAR

4.3.1Direct Address4.3.2Alliteration4.3.3Facts4.3.4Opinions4.3.5Repetition4.3.6Exaggeration (Hyperbole)4.3.7Statistics4.3.8Triple (Rule of 3)4.3.9Emotive Language4.3.10Rhetorical Questions4.3.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5

Section C: Writing

5.1

Writing Task

5.1.1Discursive Writing5.1.2Narrative Writing5.1.3Descriptive Writing5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Task

Practice questions on Personification

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is a pathetic fallacy?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which phrases use personification? True / false
  3. 3
    Which phrase uses personification?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which personified phrase could you use to create a sinister tone?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What should you do when using personification?Fill in the list
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Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning

Pathetic Fallacy