What is Personification?
Another type of figurative language that breathes life into one’s writing is personification: attributing human characteristics, emotion, and behavior to animals and inanimate objects or ideas. It helps writers turn abstract concepts into a more relatable and engaging read.
Uses of Personification:
1. Everyday Speech
Use personification to creatively get your point across in everyday conversation.
- Darkness is an old friend he can’t let go.
- Jenna’s lived here all her life and every alley calls her by name.
- The waves never get tired of kissing the shore.
- Did you see the clouds dancing?
- His hometown is expecting his return.
- The stars winked at me.
- Watch your tone; the walls are listening.
- The typhoon swept their livelihood.
- Remember the party where your shoes humiliated you?
2. Literature, Music, and Films
Writers, performers, and filmmakers create astounding imagery through personification because it transforms words and lyrics into something familiar that audiences feel and follow.
Example from Literature:
From Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom:
The story is about a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He’s enjoying the wind and the fresh air–until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore.” –
The wave behaves like a human basking in the ocean. The story is more emotionally appealing because since it’s given the ability to feel, see, and move like we do.
Example from Music:
From Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right
Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
The song associates hope in the sun’s return after a long, lonely winter.
Examples from Film:
Animated films brim with brilliant personifications loved by audiences of all ages. Pixar and Disney’s Toy Story is among the best examples of personification in a film. It has captivated millions of children and adults because it’s whimsical to watch inanimate toys like a cowboy doll, a space ranger toy, and potato heads come alive and go on amazing adventures together.
3. Advertising
Advertisers make use of personification to “humanize” their products and appeal to viewers’ sensibilities because giving human qualities to lifeless objects forges a connection with consumers.. Here are examples of personification in advertising.
- “Why wait for a quiet dishwasher? Whirlpool has it today.” (Whirlpool)
- “The happiest place on earth.” (Disneyland)
- “Stronger than dirt.” (Ajax)
- “Gatorade always wins.” (This gives Gatorade an image of strength that champions possess)
- “Fly the friendly skies.” (United Airlines)
Related Reading: Alliteration – Creating Rhythm with Words
Employ Personification in Writing
You don’t need to be Shakespeare to come up with a powerful personification. Take an object, an idea, or an animal and throw in some human attributes that best describe it. Go beyond rational bounds and discover new ways of understanding nonliving things by making them human.
Thank you for reading. We hope it’s effective! Always feel free to revisit this page if you ever have any questions about personification.
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