Comprehension Toolkit
Personification
Comprehension Toolkit
Comprehension means understanding.
The best way to
understand a text is to
ask yourself questions
as you read it.
The answers to some
questions are easy to find,
while the answers to others
are more difficult to work out.
Comprehension Toolkit
Figurative language moves away from the
straightforward, literal meaning of words.
It encourages readers to
form pictures in their minds.
It can add interest, energy
and even rhythm to writing.
Comprehension Toolkit
Personification is like metaphor,
except that it gives human qualities to
something that isn’t human.
The sun smiled down at us.
Giving the sun the human quality of
being able to smile brings it to life and
makes it seem friendly.
Comprehension Toolkit
What other human qualities could
you give to something?
Being able to speak? Being able to laugh?
What is fear being compared to in this sentence?
With each approaching footstep, fear tightened its
grip around Amy’s heart.
Fear is being compared to a fist,
squeezing Amy’s heart. Why is this
figure of speech effective?
It emphasises how powerful fear is and
how threatened Amy feels.
Comprehension Toolkit
What are the trees being
compared to in this sentence?
The palm trees greeted each other,
waving in the morning breeze.
The trees are being compared to people,
waving to each other in greeting. Why is
this figure of speech effective?
It makes the trees seem part of a community.
This adds interest and energy to the text.
Comprehension Toolkit