Personification

Which of the following best defines personification?

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

• An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.

• Giving human qualities or actions to inanimate objects or abstract ideas.

• A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Answer explanation

Personification is a figure of speech where non-human things are described as if they have human characteristics. The other options describe a simile, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia.

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

• My name

• The person eating

• The slice of pizza

• The act of calling

Answer explanation

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

Sort the following sentences into the correct figurative language categories: Personification, Simile, or Metaphor.

Groups:

(a) Personification

,

(b) Simile

,

(c) Metaphor

• The wind sang a lonely song through the trees.

• The old car groaned as it climbed the steep hill.

• The computer argued with me all afternoon.

• He is as strong as an ox.

• Her smile was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

• My phone is my lifeline.

Answer explanation

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things (groaned, sang, argued). A simile compares things using 'like' or 'as'. A metaphor directly states a comparison.

Which of the following sentences does NOT contain an example of personification?

• The sun smiled down on the children playing in the park.

• My alarm clock yells at me every morning.

• The tall oak tree stood proudly in the center of the field.

• The basketball bounced high off the gym floor.

Answer explanation

Bouncing is a normal action for a basketball. The other sentences give human qualities (smiling, yelling, being proud) to non-human things (sun, alarm clock, tree).

Match each sentence to the object or idea that is being personified.

• The old house

• The old house stared at us with its dark, empty windows.

• The camera

• The camera loves her; she looks great in every photo.

• Fear

• Fear grabbed hold of him as he walked down the dark alley.

Answer explanation

Each sentence gives a human quality to a non-human thing: the camera 'loves,' fear 'grabs,' and the house 'stares.' The matches correctly identify these personified objects/ideas.

Read the sentence: 'The angry storm pounded on the roof.' What feeling does this use of personification create?

• Peace and tranquility

• Danger and violence

• Joy and excitement

• Boredom and sadness

Answer explanation

By describing the storm as 'angry' and having it 'pound,' the author creates a sense of a violent, threatening force, not a peaceful or joyful one.

Which sentence best uses personification to describe a worn-out pair of shoes?

• The shoes were old and had holes in the soles.

• The shoes had traveled many miles and looked tired.

• The shoes were made of brown leather.

• The shoes felt as comfortable as a soft pillow.

Answer explanation

This sentence gives the shoes the human quality of looking 'tired,' which effectively conveys that they are worn out. The other options are literal descriptions or a simile.

Sort these sentences into two groups: 'Contains Personification' or 'Does Not Contain Personification'.

Groups:

(a) Contains Personification

,

(b) Does Not Contain Personification

• The moon is very bright tonight.

• My favorite chair welcomed me after a long day.

• Justice is blind.

• The opportunity knocked, and I answered.

• The boy ran quickly across the playground.

Answer explanation

The sentences in the 'Contains Personification' category give human actions or states (knocking, welcoming, being blind) to abstract ideas or objects. The other sentences are literal statements.

Read the sentence: 'The wind whispered secrets through the rustling leaves.' What is being personified?

• The leaves

• The secrets

• The wind

• The act of rustling

Answer explanation

The wind, a natural force, is given the human ability to 'whisper secrets.' The leaves are rustling, which is a natural sound, and the secrets are what is being whispered, not the thing doing the action.

Match the personified phrase to the primary human quality it demonstrates.

• A physical need (thirst)

• The wise old owl offered its advice.

• A personality trait (stubbornness)

• The stubborn car refused to start.

• Intellectual ability (wisdom)

• The playful waves tickled my toes.

• A lighthearted action (playfulness)

• The thirsty ground drank up the rain.

Answer explanation

Each phrase is correctly matched to the specific human quality it assigns to a non-human thing: the ground is thirsty, the car is stubborn, the owl is wise, and the waves are playful.