Which Figure Of Speech Gives Objects And Animals Human Characteristics?

Definition of Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or affair is given man attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human being. Personification is a common class of metaphor in that human characteristics are attributed to nonhuman things. This allows writers to create life and motion within inanimate objects, animals, and even abstruse ideas by assigning them recognizable human behaviors and emotions.

Personification is a literary device found often in children's literature. This is an effective use of figurative linguistic communication because personification relies on imagination for understanding. Of course, readers know at a logical level that nonhuman things cannot feel, carry, or think like humans. Nonetheless, personifying nonhuman things can be an interesting, creative, and constructive mode for a author to illustrate a concept or brand a point.

For case, in his moving picture book, "The Day the Crayons Quit," Drew Daywalt uses personification to allow the crayons to express their frustration at how they are (or are not) existence used. This literary device is effective in creating an imaginary world for children in which crayons can communicate like humans.

Common Examples of Personification

Hither are some examples of personification that may be found in everyday expression:

My alarm yelled at me this morning.
I like onions, simply they don't like me.
The sign on the door insulted my intelligence.
My phone is not cooperating with me today.
That bus is driving also fast.
My computer works very hard.
However, the mail is running unusually tedious this week.
I wanted to become money, but the ATM died.
This article says that spinach is adept for you lot.
Unfortunately, when she stepped on the Lego, her foot cried.
The sunflowers hung their heads.
That door jumped in my manner.
The school bell called us from outside.
In addition, the storm trampled the town.
I tin can't get my calendar to work for me.
This advertisement speaks to me.
Fear gripped the patient waiting for a diagnosis.
The closet groans when you open it.
Can you lot run across that star winking at you?
Books reach out to kids.

Examples of Personification in Speech or Writing

Hither are some examples of personification that may be found in everyday writing or conversation:

My heart danced when he walked in the room.
The hair on my arms stood afterward the performance.
Why is your found pouting in the corner?
The wind is whispering outside.
Additionally, that flick says a lot.
Her eyes are not smiling at us.
Besides, my encephalon is not working fast plenty today.
Those windows are watching us.
Our coffee maker wishes the states good morning.
The sun kissed my cheeks when I went outside.

Famous Personification Examples

Think you haven't heard of whatsoever famous personification examples? Here are some well-known and recognizable titles and quotes featuring this figure of spoken communication:

Titles

"The Brave Footling Toaster" (novel by Thomas M. Disch and adapted animated flick serial)
"This Tornado Loves Y'all" (song by Neko Case)
"Happy Anxiety" (animated musical film)
"Time Waits for No Ane" (song by The Rolling Stones)
"The Little Engine that Could" (children's volume by Watty Piper)

Quotes

"The body of water was aroused that 24-hour interval, my friends – similar an former human being trying to send dorsum soup in a deli." (Seinfeld tv series)
"Life moves pretty fast." (flick "Ferris Bueller'south Day Off")
"The dish ran away with the spoon." ("Hey, diddle, diddle" by Mother Goose)
"The Heart wants what it wants – or else it does not care" (Emily Dickinson)
"Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy." ("The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein)

Deviation Betwixt Personification and Anthropomorphism

Personification is often dislocated with the literary term anthropomorphism due to fundamental similarities. However, there is a difference between these 2 literary devices. Anthropomorphism is when human characteristics or qualities are applied to animals or deities, not inanimate objects or abstract ideas. As a literary device, anthropomorphism allows an animate being or deity to comport as a human. This is reflected in Greek dramas in which gods would appear and involve themselves in human deportment and relationships.

In addition to gods, writers use anthropomorphism to create animals that display human traits or likenesses such as wearing clothes or speaking. There are several examples of this literary device in pop culture and literature. For case, Mickey Mouse is a graphic symbol that illustrates anthropomorphism in that he wears clothes and talks like a man, though he is technically an animal. Other such examples are Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Therefore, while anthropomorphism is express to animals and deities, personification can be more widely applied as a literary device past including inanimate objects and abstract ideas. Personification allows writers to attribute human characteristics to nonhuman things without turning those things into human being-similar characters, as is washed with anthropomorphism.

Writing Personification

Overall, as a literary device, personification functions every bit a means of creating imagery and connections betwixt the animate and inanimate for readers. Therefore, personification allows writers to convey meaning in a artistic and poetic fashion. These figures of speech enhance a reader'south understanding of concepts and comparisons, interpretations of symbols and themes, and enjoyment of language.

Here are instances in which it's effective to use personification in writing:

Demonstrate Creativity

Personification demonstrates a high level of creativity. To exist valuable as a figure of speech, the human attributes assigned to a nonhuman thing through personification must make sense in some way. In other words, homo characteristics tin't just be assigned to any inanimate object as a literary device. At that place must be some connection between them that resonates with the reader, enervating inventiveness on the part of the writer to observe that connexion and develop successful personification.

Do Poetic Skill

Many poets rely on personification to create vivid imagery and memorable symbolism. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe'due south poem "The Raven," the poet skillfully personifies the raven through allowing it to speak one word, "nevermore," in response to the narrator'south questions. This is a powerful use of personification, as the narrator ends upward projecting more than complex and intricate human characteristics onto the bird as the poem continues though the raven only speaks the same word.

Create Humour

Personification can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. This is peculiarly truthful amidst young readers who tend to capeesh the comedic contrast between a nonhuman affair existence portrayed as possessing human characteristics. Personification allows for creating sense of humor related to incongruity and even absurdity.

Enhance Imagination

Overall, personification is a literary device that allows readers to enhance their imagination by "believing" that something inanimate or nonhuman tin can deport, think, or feel as a man. In fact, people tend to personify things in their daily lives past assigning human being behavior or feelings to pets and even objects. For instance, a child may assign emotions to a favorite stuffed animal to friction match their own feelings. In improver, a cat owner may pretend their pet is speaking to them and answer back. This allows writers and readers to see a reflection of humanity through imagination. Readers may also develop a deeper understanding of man behavior and emotion.

Examples of Personification in Literature

Example #ane: The Firm on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros)

But the house on Mango Street is not the way they told information technology at all. It'southward small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you'd retrieve they were belongings their breath.

In the showtime chapter of Cisneros's book, the narrator Esperanza is describing the house into which she and her family are moving. Her parents take promised her that they would find a spacious and welcoming habitation for their family unit, like to what Esperanza has seen on television. However, their economic insecurity has prevented them from getting a dwelling house that represents the American dream.

Cisneros uses personification to emphasize the restrictive circumstances of Esperanza's family unit. To Esperanza, the windows of the business firm appear to be "holding their jiff" due to their pocket-size size, creating an image of suffocation. This personification not only enhances the description of the house on Mango Street for the reader, but it also reflects Esperanza's feelings about the house, her family, and her life. Like the windows, Esperanza is holding her breath also, with the hope of a better futurity and the fear of her dreams non becoming reality.

Case #ii:Ex-Basketball Player (John Updike)

Off piece of work, he hangs around Mae's Luncheonette.

Grease-greyness and kind of coiled, he plays pinball,

Smokes those sparse cigars, nurses lemon phosphates.

Flick seldom says a word to Mae, just nods

Beyond her face up toward bright applauding tiers

Of Necco Wafers, Nibs, and Juju Beads.

In his verse form about a former basketball player named Flick, Updike recreates an arena crowd watching Picture show play pinball past personifying the candy boxes in the luncheonette. The snack containers "applaud" Flick as he spends his gratuitous fourth dimension playing a game that is isolating and requires no athletic skill. Nevertheless, the personification in Updike'southward poem is a reflection of how Flick'south life has changed since he played and set records for his basketball squad in loftier schoolhouse.

Moving-picture show's fans have been replaced by packages of sugary snacks with little substance rather than existent people appreciating his skills and cheering him on. Like the value of his audience, Flick'due south own value every bit a person has macerated into obscurity and the mundane at present that he is an ex-basketball player.

Example #iii:How Cruel Is the Story of Eve (Stevie Smith)

It is only a legend,
Yous say? Just what
Is the meaning of the fable
If not
To give blame to women nearly
And nigh penalisation?
This is the meaning of a legend that colours
All human being thought; it is non found amongst animals.

How cruel is the story of Eve,
What responsibility information technology has
In history
For misery.

In her poem, Smith personifies the story of Eve as it is relayed in the offset volume of the Bible,Genesis. Smith attributes several human characteristics to this story, such every bit cruelty and responsibility. Therefore, this enhances the deeper pregnant of the poem which is that Eve is not to blame for her actions, essentially leading to the "fall" of homo and expulsion from Paradise In addition, she is not to blame for the subjugation and inequality that women have faced throughout history and tracing back to Eve.

Eve's "story" or "fable" in the poem is accused by the poet of coloring "all human thought." In other words, Smith is belongings the story responsible for the legacy of punishment towards women throughout history past its portrayal of Eve, the kickoff adult female, as a temptress and sinner. The apply of this literary device is effective in separating Eve'southward character as a woman from the fashion in which her story is told.

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