Personification
&
Alliteration
Personification
Personification is when an author gives
an idea, object, or animal qualities or
traits of a person.
Examples
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smiling moon
CD player sang a tune
car ran
Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie
My computer hates me.
The camera loves me.
Opportunity knocked on the door.
The sun greeted me this morning.
Snow had wrapped a white blanket over the city.
Time never waits for anyone.
Trees were dancing with the wind.
The TV sprang to life.
Tutorial
 (Personification
and Learning Styles)
 http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/
writing/flash/pipe.swf
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of usually
initial consonant sounds in two or
more neighboring words or syllables.
When writers want to emphasize
certain words, they may use
alliteration.
Tutorial
 Alliteration
& Theodore Roethke –
Setting Goals
http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/
writing/flash/awesome.swf
Examples
down in the dumps
 do or die
 right as rain
 sink or swim
 pay the price
 Coca-Cola
 back to the basics
 green as grass
 live the life
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Directions
For each of the following slides decide
whether each sentence contains a
simile, a metaphor, alliteration, or
personification.
If simile or metaphor, what is being
compared?
If personification what object is being
personified?
page 72
The other bodies in the room were
little more than bags of flesh and
bones, dumped across broken
chairs and couches.
page 72
The other bodies in the room were
little more than bags of flesh and
bones, dumped across broken
chairs and couches.
metaphor
Camp Green Lake once danced in the
heart of Texas.
Camp Green Lake once danced in
the heart of Texas.
personification
Trout's feet smelled like dead fish.
Trout's feet smelled like dead fish.
simile
The dark and dreary days were
depressing.
The dark and dreary days were
depressing.
alliteration
Elya fought his way to America after
forgetting to fulfill a promise.
Elya fought his way to America after
forgetting to fulfill a promise.
alliteration
Mr. Yelnats thought old smelly
sneakers were his ticket to success.
Mr. Yelnats thought old smelly
sneakers were his ticket to
success.
metaphor
The rain stopped, and the lake said
good bye.
The rain stopped, and the lake said
good bye.
personification
The trees beckoned the campers to its
shade.
The trees beckoned the campers to
its shade.
personification
Clyde Livingston's shoes were as
smelly as blue cheese.
Clyde Livingston's shoes were as
smelly as blue cheese.
simile
Katherine kept cold memories in her
heart.
Katherine kept cold memories in her
heart.
alliteration
The hundred year curse was dynamite
to Stanley's family.
The hundred year curse was
dynamite to Stanley's family.
metaphor
Stanley seldom seemed satisfied.
Stanley seldom seemed satisfied.
alliteration
The wind sang its sad tune.
The wind sang its sad tune.
personification
Derrick Dunne did dirty deeds.
Derrick Dunne did dirty deeds.
alliteration
Magnet claimed, "My fingers are like
little magnets."
Magnet claimed, "My fingers are like
little magnets.“
simile
Sam ran like the devil with Charles
Walker chasing after him.
Sam ran like the devil with Charles
Walker chasing after him.
simile
The cameras were windows for the
Warden to see into the boys' lives.
The cameras were windows for the
Warden to see into the boys' lives.
metaphor
The nail polish with rattlesnake venom
was as lethal as nuclear waste.
The nail polish with rattlesnake
venom was as lethal as nuclear
waste.
simile
The onions were miracle drugs.
The onions were miracle drugs.
metaphor
The camp sang when Stanley and Zero
were set free.
The camp sang when Stanley and
Zero were set free.
personification
Practice
Go to page 37 in your student packet
for Holes.
When you finish return here for
additional practice.
Listen to “I am a Rock” by Paul Simon.
Highlight personification in blue, metaphors
in red, and alliterations in green.
A winter's dayin a deep and dark December
I am aloneGazing from my window to the streets
below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of
snow.
I am a rock, I am an island.
I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need of friendship
friendship causes pain
It's laughter and loving I disdain
I am a rock, I am an island.
Don't talk of love
but I've heard the word before
It's sleeping in my memory
I won't disturb the slumber of the
feelings that have died
If I never loved I never would have
cried.
I am a rock, I am an island.
I have my books
and my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room, safe within my
womb,
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock, I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain, and an island
never cries.
personification blue, metaphors red, and
alliterations green
A winter's dayin a deep and dark December
I am aloneGazing from my window to the streets
below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of
snow.
I am a rock, I am an island.
I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need of friendship
friendship causes pain
It's laughter and loving I disdain
I am a rock, I am an island.
Don't talk of love
but I've heard the word before
It's sleeping in my memory
I won't disturb the slumber of the
feelings that have died
If I never loved I never would have
cried.
I am a rock, I am an island.
I have my books
and my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room, safe within my
womb,
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock, I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain, and an island
never cries.
Listen to Paul Simon’s “At the Zoo” Which
figurative language technique does he use?
Someone told me
Its all happening at the zoo.
Somethin’ tells me
Its all happening at the zoo.
I do believe it,
I do believe its true.
The monkeys stand for honesty,
Giraffes are insincere,
And the elephants are kindly but
They’re dumb.
Orangutans are skeptical
Of changes in their cages,
And the zookeeper is very fond of
rum.
It’s a light and tumble journey
From the east side to the park;
Just a fine and fancy ramble
To the zoo.
But you can take the crosstown
bus
If it’s raining or it’s cold,
And the animals will love it
If you do.
Zebras are reactionaries,
Antelopes are missionaries,
Pigeons plot in secrecy,
And hamsters turn on frequently.
What a gas! you gotta come and
see
At the zoo.