PERSONIFICATIONPERSONIFICATIONDorothyDorothy: :

Don't be silly, Toto. Scarecrows Don't be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don't talk. don't talk.

PERSONIFICATION PERSONIFICATION A figure of speech which A figure of speech which endows animals, ideas, or endows animals, ideas, or

inanimate objects with human inanimate objects with human traits or abilities.traits or abilities.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLESThe TrainThe Train

I like to see it lap the miles, I like to see it lap the miles, And lick the valleys up,And lick the valleys up,

And stop to feed itself at tanks;And stop to feed itself at tanks;And then, prodigious, stepAnd then, prodigious, step

Around a pile of mountains,Around a pile of mountains,And, supercilious, peerAnd, supercilious, peer

In shanties by the sides of roads;In shanties by the sides of roads;And then a quarry pareAnd then a quarry pare

To fit its sides, and crawl between, To fit its sides, and crawl between, Complaining all the whileComplaining all the whileIn horrid, hooting stanza;In horrid, hooting stanza;

Then chase itself down hill Then chase itself down hill

And neigh like Boanerges;And neigh like Boanerges;Then, punctual as a start its own,Then, punctual as a start its own,

Stop-docile and omnipotent-Stop-docile and omnipotent-A stable door.A stable door.

By Emily DickinsonBy Emily Dickinson  

The Cat & The FiddleThe Cat & The FiddleHey diddle, Diddle,Hey diddle, Diddle,The cat and the fiddle,The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon;The cow jumped over the moon;The little dog laughed The little dog laughed

To see such sport,To see such sport,And the dish ran away with the spoon.And the dish ran away with the spoon.

By Mother GooseBy Mother Goose

Two Sunflowers Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow RoomMove in the Yellow Room ..

"Ah, William, we're weary of weather,""Ah, William, we're weary of weather,"said the sunflowers, shining with dew.said the sunflowers, shining with dew.

"Our traveling habits have tired us."Our traveling habits have tired us.Can you give us a room with a view?“Can you give us a room with a view?“

They arranged themselves at the windowThey arranged themselves at the windowand counted the steps of the sun,and counted the steps of the sun,

and they both took root in the carpetand they both took root in the carpetwhere the topaz tortoises run. where the topaz tortoises run.

William BlakeWilliam Blake

PERSONIFICATIONPERSONIFICATION PracticePractice

Lets’ check to see if you can Lets’ check to see if you can recognize personification.recognize personification.

Decide whether the following are Decide whether the following are personification or not. personification or not.

1.) Walking desks took over 1.) Walking desks took over town.town.

Is it personification?Is it personification?

Yes!Yes!

Desks don’t walk. Humans do. Desks don’t walk. Humans do.

Got it?Got it?

2.) I listen to the wind.2.) I listen to the wind.

Is it personification?Is it personification?

No!No!

The wind is audible, but might not have The wind is audible, but might not have human characteristics in this instance. human characteristics in this instance.

Try another…Try another…

3.) The dog stares 3.) The dog stares carefully at me.carefully at me.

Is it personification?Is it personification?

Nope.Nope.

Dogs, like you and I, can stare. Nothing Dogs, like you and I, can stare. Nothing especially human about it. especially human about it.

Get that one right? Get that one right? How about this one!How about this one!

4.) The snake loves 4.) The snake loves food.food.

Is it personification?Is it personification?

No, again!No, again!

In this example, snakes loving food means In this example, snakes loving food means they like to eat. Nothing more. they like to eat. Nothing more.

Couple more…Couple more…

5.) Moon dances around my 5.) Moon dances around my fear.fear.

Is it personification?Is it personification?

Absolutely.Absolutely.

Human beings can dance. Moons cannot. Human beings can dance. Moons cannot.

Doing well?Doing well?

6.) The thought lumbered 6.) The thought lumbered around in my mind.around in my mind.

Is it personification?Is it personification?

Yes!Yes!

Thoughts don’t generally lumber. Thoughts don’t generally lumber.

Two more!Two more!

7.) Ronnie Johnson smiles 7.) Ronnie Johnson smiles at the fox.at the fox.Is it personification?Is it personification?

No way!No way!

Ronnie Johnson is a person. The fox has Ronnie Johnson is a person. The fox has nothing to do with smiling. nothing to do with smiling.

Last one!Last one!

8.) Wind whispers like a 8.) Wind whispers like a tree in the breezetree in the breeze

Is it personification?Is it personification?

Yes!Yes!

Winds don’t whisper, people do.Winds don’t whisper, people do.

That was it! That was it!