Figurative Language Personification What is personification Personification is

Figurative Language Personification

What is personification? Personification is giving human characteristics to everyday ideas, objects, and animals.

Examples The sun peeked happily from behind a cloud. The trees danced back and forth in the wind. The car happily squealed down the highway. It was time to go home, but the bell refused to ring. The warm fireplace seemed to be calling my name. The delicious smell of cookies pulled me into the kitchen. The angry sky roared and threw lightening around.

Example Be Our Guest

Perosnification Practice The sun danced across the sky on the hot summer day. The big full moon guided me through the forest. The old car groaned as it made its way down the long open road. The wind whispered lonely sounds as it blew through the old creaky windows. The leaves raced to the ground as the children ran across the playground. The pencil moaned as the boy turned the handle on the pencil sharpener.

Why do we use personification in our writing? Many times an author will use this literary technique to add more fun, drama, sparkle, excitement, or interest to a story or to convey a certain mood. It makes more sense to us (as readers) to understand what they author is talking about when WE can RELATE to the emotions or characteristics that the “non-living” object has. Ex: The light breeze gracefully danced across the porch and sang verses of warm summer melodies. What kind of feeling does that verse above give you?

“Summer Grass” – Carl Sandburg Summer grass aches and whispers It wants something: it calls and sings; it pours out wishes to the overhead stars. The rain hears; the rain answers; the rain is slow coming; the rain wets the face of the grass.

“Summer Grass” – Carl Sandburg • • Where is the personification? Why add personification to a poem? Summer grass aches and whispers It wants something: it calls and sings; it pours out wishes to the overhead stars. • How do we know there is personification? (keywords? ) The rain hears; the rain answers; the rain is slow coming; the rain wets the face of the grass

“Summer Grass” – Carl Sandburg Actual Poem Summer grass aches and whispers Take out the personification The grass is very dry. It wants something: it calls and sings; it pours It hasn't rained in days. out wishes to the overhead stars. The rain hears; the rain answers; the rain is slow coming; the rain wets the face of the grass. It rains and gets the grass wet.

Personification Poem • Lobster • Cat • Palm tree • Leaf • Plane • Or use your own idea (related to the Cay) • Raft • Sand • Flower Pick an object from the box on the left and write a personification poem Use the object as the title Don’t use the word in the poem Include at least two examples of personification

Example Candle I scream out in the dark I bring light to you My flame whispers in the quiet

Share time Share your poem Call on someone to guess your topic