What is personification?
Personification is one of the literary devices writers use to make their writing more engaging to the reader. Personification is the attribution of human qualities and attributes to objects, animals, ideas and concepts.
For example:
The wind howled on the cold and blustery day.
Why do we use personification?
By humanizing objects, animals and ideas, we bring them closer to the experience of the reader. Personification makes it easier for the reader to relate to the object, animal, or idea in an imaginative way.
For example:
The fall leaves danced across the lawn.
In your imagination you can see the leaves tumbling across the lawn as the wind blows them across it.
When should students use personification in writing?
As personification is a figurative use of language, students should consider using it in their creative writing, such as stories, poems, and songs. As personification focuses on human emotions, this literary device is not used in more formal writing, such as essays, reports or technical writing.
Worksheets to practice personification
In our grade 5 reading comprehension section, we have a series of worksheets for students to practice personification by filling in the missing words in sentences.
