key term - Personification

Definition

Personification is a literary device that attributes human qualities and characteristics to non-human entities, objects, or abstract concepts. This technique helps to create vivid imagery and emotional connections, allowing readers to engage with the narrative or description on a deeper level. By giving life to inanimate objects or ideas, personification enhances the reader's understanding and emotional experience within the story.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Personification can help create emotional depth by allowing readers to relate to non-human elements, enhancing their engagement with the text.
2. This device is often used in poetry and prose to evoke feelings and convey messages more powerfully than literal descriptions.
3. Common examples of personification include phrases like 'the wind whispered through the trees' or 'time marches on', where natural elements are given human actions or traits.
4. Writers use personification to develop themes and moods, making abstract ideas like love, fear, or nature more tangible and relatable.
5. The effectiveness of personification lies in its ability to transform ordinary scenes into vivid experiences, inviting readers to see the world through different perspectives.

Review Questions

• How does personification enhance the emotional connection between readers and the text?
  • Personification enhances emotional connections by giving human traits to non-human elements, allowing readers to relate to these entities on a personal level. For example, when a storm is described as 'angry,' it conveys feelings of turmoil that resonate with human emotions. This engagement encourages readers to invest in the narrative, as they can empathize with the feelings projected onto inanimate objects or natural phenomena.
• In what ways can personification be used effectively to create vivid settings or atmospheres in writing?
  • Personification can be used effectively to create vivid settings and atmospheres by bringing scenes to life through relatable descriptions. For instance, describing a bustling city as 'breathing' with life creates an image of vitality that draws readers in. By attributing human characteristics to landscapes or weather conditions, writers can evoke specific moods, such as warmth from a 'friendly sun' or eeriness from a 'whispering fog', enriching the reader's experience of the environment.
• Evaluate how personification contributes to the development of extended metaphors and allegories in literature.
  • Personification plays a crucial role in developing extended metaphors and allegories by transforming abstract concepts into relatable characters. For example, in George Orwell's 'Animal Farm,' animals symbolize political figures and movements, making complex ideas about power and corruption more accessible. This technique allows authors to illustrate moral lessons or social commentary through relatable narratives, thereby deepening the reader's understanding of the themes presented. By giving life to ideas through personification, writers can convey profound messages in a compelling and engaging manner.

Related terms

Anthropomorphism: A specific type of personification where animals or objects are given human traits, often seen in fables and animated films.

Imagery: Descriptive language that evokes sensory experiences, helping readers to visualize scenes and emotions within a piece of writing.

Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things, highlighting similarities without using 'like' or 'as'.