Personification

Which of the following best defines personification?

• A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'

• Giving human qualities or actions to inanimate objects or animals

• An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect

• A word that imitates the sound it represents

Answer explanation

Personification is a type of figurative language where non-human things (objects, ideas, or animals) are described as if they have human characteristics, emotions, or abilities.

In the sentence, 'The last slice of pizza on the counter was calling my name,' what is being personified?

• The counter

• My name

• The slice of pizza

• The act of calling

Answer explanation

The slice of pizza, an inanimate object, is given the human ability to 'call,' which is an example of personification. The other options are not being given human qualities.

Sort the following sentences into the correct categories: 'Uses Personification' or 'Does Not Use Personification'.

Groups:

(a) Uses Personification

,

(b) Does Not Use Personification

• The dog barked at the mail carrier.

• The wind sang a sad song through the trees.

• My phone died at the worst possible moment.

• The book was on the table.

Answer explanation

Sentences are sorted based on whether a non-human thing is given human qualities. A phone 'dying' and wind 'singing' are examples of personification, while a dog barking and a book being on a table are literal descriptions.

Which sentence contains an example of personification?

• The stairs groaned under the weight of the heavy boxes.

• The new student was as quiet as a mouse.

• My backpack is a black hole of lost homework.

• The basketball bounced high off the gym floor.

Answer explanation

This sentence gives the human quality of 'groaning' to the stairs. The other options are a simile, a metaphor, and a literal statement, respectively.

Read the sentence below. "The tired, old engine coughed once, sputtered twice, and then finally surrendered to the cold morning." What feeling or idea is created by the use of personification in this sentence?

• It suggests the engine is powerful and reliable.

• It emphasizes that the engine is worn out and failing.

• It shows that the morning was sunny and warm.

• It describes the normal, mechanical sounds an engine makes.

Answer explanation

The use of human-like actions and feelings such as 'tired,' 'coughed,' 'sputtered,' and 'surrendered' to describe the engine gives it the qualities of an old, weak person giving up. This emphasizes the idea that the engine is worn out and no longer works properly.

Read the sentence: 'The lonely lighthouse stared out at the stormy sea.' What feeling does the use of personification create?

• Excitement and joy

• Anger and frustration

• Isolation and sadness

• Confusion and mystery

Answer explanation

Describing the lighthouse as 'lonely' and having it 'stare' gives it a human-like emotion of solitude, which contributes to a sad and isolated tone.

Which of the following sentences does NOT use personification?

• The flowers begged for water during the drought.

• The angry clouds gathered before the storm.

• The cat stretched lazily in the warm sunshine.

• My computer threw a fit and decided to shut down.

Answer explanation

Stretching is a natural action for a cat. The other sentences give human qualities to non-human things: flowers 'begging,' clouds being 'angry,' and a computer 'throwing a fit.'

Sort these examples of figurative language into the correct categories: 'Personification', 'Simile', or 'Metaphor'.

Groups:

(a) Personification

,

(b) Simile

,

(c) Metaphor

• The classroom was a zoo after the bell rang.

• The alarm clock yelled at me to wake up.

• His explanation was as clear as mud.

• The trees whispered secrets to the wind.

Answer explanation

Personification gives human traits to non-human things ('yelled,' 'whispered'). A simile compares things using 'like' or 'as'. A metaphor directly states one thing is another.

Which sentence best uses personification to describe a house that seems welcoming?

• The house had a big front door and many windows.

• The house was painted a cheerful shade of yellow.

• The house sat on a hill overlooking the town.

• The open arms of the house seemed to embrace visitors.

Answer explanation

This sentence gives the house 'arms' that 'embrace,' creating a warm and welcoming feeling. The other options are literal descriptions.

In the sentence, 'The thirsty ground drank the rainwater greedily,' what human quality is given to the ground?

• Being wet

• Being greedy

• Being thirsty and drinking

• Being made of dirt

Answer explanation

The ground, which cannot literally be thirsty or drink, is given these human qualities to describe how quickly it absorbed the water.