Personification is the act of giving human qualities/traits to non-human things.
It is a special kind of metaphor in which animals, plants, inanimate objects or abstract ideas are
represented as if they were human beings and possessed human actions, thoughts, feelings, habits.
My computer stubbornly
refused to start.
The old car sat idle,
lonely and forgotten.
Time is running out.
The bees buzzed merrily
among the flowers.
The thunder roared in
the evening sky.
The rain is dancing on
the roof.
The sofa is looking at
me invitingly.
The good news
travelled quickly.
EXERCISES
1) Underline the object, animal or idea being personified, and circle what they are doing that makes it an
example of personification.
Example: It was a hot summer day and the sun danced across the sky.
1. The sun played hide and seek behind the clouds.
2. The last slice of pizza was calling my name.
3. Necessity is the mother of invention.
4. The candle flame danced in the dark.
5. My alarm clock springs to life every day at 6:20 am.
6. The thunder clapped angrily in the distance.
7. I opened the door and saw the toys sleeping on the floor after a long afternoon.
8. The party died as soon as the music stopped playing.
9. It was a cold day and the daisies nodded their heads in the wind.
10. We entered the house and the old, wooden floor squeaked, begging for a repair.
2) Fill in the blank with the words from the box to form the correct personification.
competing
danced
eating
growled
jumped
loves
marched
refused
sang
sleeps
1. The ocean waves ____________________ furiously.
2. The cookie ____________________ right into my head.
3. This city never ____________________.
4. The piano ____________________ a lovely tune.
5. My credit card is constantly ____________________ my money!
6. She is so beautiful the camera ____________________ her.
7. The trees ____________________ back and forth in the wind.
8. We all wanted to go home, but the bell ____________________ to ting.
9. The angry clouds ____________________ across the sky.
10. My heart is ____________________ with my head.
3) Read the poem and answer the questions.
Personification
by Lill Pluta
I know that clouds aren't people,
But they're looking glum today.
So I say that they are pouting,
As I watch the sun turn grey.
Now, the sky is not a person,
But I feel its raindrop tears.
So I say that it is crying,
And then the sun appears.
The sun is not a person,
But its warmth spreads like a grin.
So I say the sun is smiling,
And the sky cheers up again.
1. How many stanzas are there in this poem? __________________________________________________
2. How many lines are in each stanza? ________________________________________________________
3. Can you identify the rhyme scheme? _______________________________________________________
4. How many times is personification used in this poem?
List all the examples.