Personification
Personification is when a writer gives human-like qualities to something other than a human, like a chair or a dog. For example, the sky can be called "angry" when it looks like there is going to be a bad storm, and angry is a human emotion, but the sky is not actually angry since it cannot have feelings of its own.
Here's a trailer for Disney/Pixar's animated movie Cars. Think about these questions while you watch the video clip: *What is being personified? *What specific human activities are they performing that they can't do in the real world? |
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Here's an example of personification in a poem. It's called Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room by Nancy Willard. What is being personified? What specific human actions are they performing?
Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room.
"Ah, William, we're weary of weather,"
said the sunflowers, shining with dew.
"Our traveling habits have tired us.
Can you give us a room with a view?"
They arranged themselves at the window
and counted the steps of the sun,
and they both took root in the carpet
where the topaz tortoises run.
"Ah, William, we're weary of weather,"
said the sunflowers, shining with dew.
"Our traveling habits have tired us.
Can you give us a room with a view?"
They arranged themselves at the window
and counted the steps of the sun,
and they both took root in the carpet
where the topaz tortoises run.