Personification is a literary device that involves attributing human qualities, emotions, or characteristics to non-human objects or animals. This technique is often used in literature and poetry to give life and personality to otherwise inanimate or non-human subjects, making them more relatable and easier for readers to understand and connect with.
One of the key ways that personification is used is by giving non-human subjects human-like qualities and characteristics. For example, a poet might describe the sun as "smiling" or a tree as "sad." These descriptions give the sun and tree a personality and emotional depth that they do not actually possess, but that readers can easily understand and relate to. This can help writers create more vivid and immersive experiences for their readers, and can make their writing more engaging and memorable.
Another way that personification is used is by giving non-human subjects human-like actions or behaviors. For example, a writer might describe the wind as "whispering" or a river as "flowing." These descriptions give the wind and river a sense of agency and purpose, as if they are conscious beings with their own desires and motivations. This can help writers create more dynamic and interesting characters, even if those characters are not actually human.
Personification can also be used to explore deeper themes and ideas in literature. For example, a writer might use personification to explore the relationship between humans and nature, or to comment on the role of emotions in the world. By giving non-human subjects human-like qualities and behaviors, writers can create metaphors and symbols that help readers understand and think about complex ideas in new and deeper ways.
Overall, personification is a powerful and versatile literary device that can be used in a wide range of contexts to give life and personality to non-human subjects. Whether it is used to create more relatable and engaging characters, to explore deeper themes and ideas, or simply to add beauty and depth to a piece of writing, personification can be an essential tool for writers looking to bring their work to life.
What is Personification? Definition, Examples of Literary Personification
How thorough she was at bath-time, and up at any moment of the night if one of her charges made the slightest cry. Personification in Past, Present, and Future A discussion of personification in ''A Christmas Carol'' would not be complete without discussing the three ghosts themselves. More than just a clever way to bring inanimate objects to life, this writing technique can enrich description and imbue emotions in unexpected ways. Since we have a uniquely human perspective on the world, we can better understand something if we characterize it as or similar to other humans. Whether that's smiling clouds or a grumpy dog, you're adding an extra element to allow us to connect. However, writers have been including personification in their works of literature for far longer than that. The invisible worm, That flies in the night In the howling storm: Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy: And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy.
💣 Personification examples in literature. Are personification literary elements? Explained by FAQ Blog. 2022
When we personify an inanimate object or an abstract concept, it means that we are writing a description about the object using the same terms that we would use to describe a human being. And they use human traits like parents and social networks to play into puns like schools of fish and surfing turtles, to help the audience understand the complex comings and goings of life under the sea. It wears a green robe and carries an empty scabbard for a sword. Among its adorable cast of characters are a reporter who is a fox and a policeman who is a bear. Both impersonation and cremamorphism illustrate an abstract idea with identifiable human qualities, adding more dimension to the story.
What is Personification — Definition and Examples for Writers
Their metaphorical and prosopopoeic set-up is acknowledged, but the use of metaphor and prosopopoeia is analyzed on a theoretical and technical level only. Let's look at some examples of writers who have put it into practice. Definition Personification is a part of figurative language. Personifying objects can make the world of a story appear lively or more menacing depending on how the personification is used. In this 1950s crime novel, Margery Allingham uses impersonation to set the tone of the story. Who ever heard the like of it—in the nineteenth century, mind; in an age of progress, and in a country which rejoices in the blessings of the British constitution? What human attribute is being ascribed to it? The first is the poem, 'Because I could not Stop for Death,' by Emily Dickinson. For example, we anthropomorphized characters in many Disney movies, like the very late rabbit in Alice in Wonderland or Nemo in Finding Nemo, two animals with person-like features; or in Lumière the candelabra in Beauty and the Beast.
What Is Personification? Definition and Examples from Literature
Anthropomorphism- Animal Farm, Winnie the Pooh, Beauty and the Beast, The Railway Series. Anthropomorphism is personification in its most extreme incarnation. The Autumn of the Middle Ages, trans. Personification is used throughout literature, movies, and everyday vernacular. Examples of personification in literature Great literary masters have deftly employed personifications in their masterpieces that have enthralled readers for many generations.
The Greeks and Romans showed us how. Being able to personify these characters has and continues to open the doors for memorable characters on the big screen. To begin with, here is the definition of personification: it is a literary device which attributes traditional human attributes to non-human things, or even objects such as household items. What I mean is that the artistic personification is inexhaustible to rational analysis. However, the link between the two concepts is strong and in some examples there is a degree of overlap. When you use personification, you give everything in your story a sense of character and identity.
Beyond all of that, personification lends depth and interest to a literary work, rendering it richer than it otherwise might have been. Connect with readers The thing about readers is that the vast majority of them are. . Stanford strives to post only content for which we have licensed permission or that is otherwise permitted by copyright law. Personification examples can be found everywhere, from film to prose to poetry. Check out our online writing classes! Allowing trees, or animals, or even objects to interact with characters can engage a reader much more than if they were portrayed realistically.
Personification can also be used to add depth and meaning to a text by giving human characteristics to abstract concepts or objects. In doing so, Steinbeck brought what would have been a rather dull scene to life. She proved to be quite a treasure of a nurse. As you can see, personification is a great tool that writers can use to create rich description and meaning without resorting to long-winded exposition. Examples of Personification in Poetry Example 1 In this section, we'll look at three examples of personification in poetry.
To make a connection, we see pictures of the Grim Reaper carrying a scythe. This is a great example of personifying success. Readers may also develop a deeper understanding of human behavior and emotion. Personification is always figurative: readers are not meant to believe that Robert Frost's scythe is actually whispering, instead understanding that Frost is using figurative language to describe an experience. In literature, personification is often used to create vivid and engaging imagery, and to add depth and meaning to a text. Potentially personifications can always come to life again. He dripped down in an unpleasant way, smearing his fingers with soot all over the two elegant young men who sat inside.
