The Whispering Windmill - Personification in literary text (Grade 7)

In the first paragraph, which nonhuman thing is described as doing a human action?

• The bolt being tightened

• The windmill standing proudly

• The post being made of wood

• The land being dusty

Answer explanation

The passage says the windmill 'stood proudly.' Standing proudly is a human posture that shows confidence or accomplishment. This is an example of personification. The other options are literal descriptions.

What is the meaning of the phrase 'The soil itself seemed to be begging for a drink'?

• The soil was making a quiet noise.

• The ground was extremely dry and needed water.

• Arden and Ezra were asking for water.

• The plants were starting to die.

Answer explanation

This is an example of personification used to emphasize a point. 'Begging for a drink' is a figurative way to say that the soil was very dry and desperately in need of water, much like a thirsty person would beg.

According to the passage, what human-like action did the factory perform?

• It watched them with its walls.

• It shook the ground.

• It coughed a puff of gray smoke.

• It had a constant, low hum.

Answer explanation

The passage states, 'it coughed a puff of gray smoke into the otherwise blue sky.' Coughing is a human action, so this is a direct example of personification from the text.

Why does the author say the bicycle chain 'complained with a squeak'?

• To show that the chain was brand new.

• To prove that the windmill design was a failure.

• To suggest that the chain was happy to be working.

• To create a sound that suggests effort and age.

Answer explanation

By saying the chain 'complained,' the author gives it a human-like quality of grumbling about having to work. This emphasizes that it's an old, recycled part that is struggling a bit, which adds to the theme of using old things to create something new.

Which of these is described in the passage as singing 'a quiet, happy song of success'?

• The windmill's blades

• The water from the hose

• Arden and Ezra

• The gust of wind

Answer explanation

The passage explicitly states, 'They seemed to sing a quiet, happy song of success,' referring to the windmill's blades that were spinning in the wind.

Match the personified object with the feeling or mood it helps create in the story.

• A feeling of threat or opposition

• The 'whispering' wind

• A feeling of age and neglect

• The 'grumbling' factory

• A feeling of gentle, natural help

• The 'proudly' standing windmill

• A feeling of success and hope

• The 'groaning' fence

Answer explanation

The 'grumbling' factory acts as the villain, creating a mood of opposition. The windmill 'standing proudly' represents Arden's successful innovation and hope. The 'groaning' fence shows the garden's state of neglect. The 'whispering' wind is the gentle force of nature that powers the solution.

Sort the following descriptions from the passage into the correct categories: 'Personification' or 'Literal Description'.

Groups:

(a) Personification

,

(b) Literal Description

• The factory grumbled

• built from an old bicycle wheel

• a trickle of water sputtered

• the rusty fence groaned

• The soil drank greedily

• He looked at the thirsty plants

Answer explanation

Personification gives human qualities to nonhuman things. 'Groaned,' 'grumbled,' and 'drank greedily' are human-like actions. The other phrases are literal, factual descriptions of objects or events in the story.

The author uses personification to describe both the factory ('grumbled,' 'coughed') and the windmill ('stood proudly,' 'sing a...song'). How does using personification for both the problem (the factory) and the solution (the windmill) affect the story's central conflict? Explain your answer using specific details from the passage.

Answer explanation