PERSONIFICATION Human Characteristics EXPLANATION Sometimes a writer will

PERSONIFICATION Human Characteristics

EXPLANATION Sometimes a writer will give human characteristics to nonhuman things. Objects, ideas, places or animals may be given human qualities. They may perform human actions. This type of figurative language is called personification. It helps the writer create an exciting picture in the reader’s mind. Map Tap Personification (figurative language) 4

EXAMPLES: • The sailboat danced gracefully past us. • The flames ate hungrily at the burning house. • The once-proud trees bent meekly before the storm. • The broad, flat rock lay sunning itself by the stream. Map Tap Personification (figurative language) 5

PRACTICE • • Directions: Read the sentence, think about the meaning, notice how personification creates a word picture. Identify the personification in each sentence. 1. The fog crept silently into the valley. 2. The tree fought the wind with its branches 3. The computer devoured information all day long. 4. The hikers left the meadow and were swallowed by the forest. Map Tap Personification (figurative language) 6

REVIEW • Sometimes a writer will give human characteristics to nonhuman things. • Objects, ideas, places, or animals may be given human qualities. • They may perform human actions. • This type of figurative language is called personification. Map Tap Personification (figurative language) 7

USING PERSONIFICATION • Write three sentences that use personification. • Be sure to give some human quality to some nonhuman thing. • Choose one sentence and draw a detailed picture that illustrates the personification in the sentence. Map Tap Personification (figurative language) 8

HELPFUL HINTS • To recognize personification: 1. Read the sentence carefully. 2. Try to see the meaning of the words in your mind. 3. Notice how personification creates a word picture and makes the sentence more interesting. Map Tap Personification (figurative language) 9

Writer’s Notebook TASK Title your entry: “Trees” Consider the trees that live outside of our school. What do they think about what is going on? How are their lives affected by our human progress? Do they have families, friends, children, etc…? Do they have pets (birds, squirrels, etc…) ? If they had voices, what would they say, tell us about themselves, feel about their lives, see, smell, think, hear, fear…? ? ?

Writer’s Notebook TASK Title your entry: “Trees” Write a POEM, SHORT STORY, LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER, one-act PLAY, Letter to School Board. You may also suggest ideas too. Use PERSONIFICATION, SIMILES, METAPHORS, and DIALOGUE! Have fun and get creative!

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