English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Use personification
Use personification
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define personification in their own words.
Identify examples of personification in various texts.
Explain the effect of personification on a reader's understanding or emotion.
Distinguish personification from literal descriptions.
Create original sentences using effective personification.
Analyze how personification contributes to an author's purpose or the mood of a text.
Have you ever seen a tree 'dance' in the wind or heard the 'whispering' leaves? 🌬️ What if objects could talk or feel just like people?
In this lesson, you'll discover how writers use personification to make their words come alive, giving human qualities to non-human things. Understanding personification will help you appreciate literature more deeply...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PersonificationA type of figurative language where human qualities, actions, or emotions are given to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas.The wind howled its angry song through the night.
Figurative LanguageLanguage that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation, often used to create a special effect or meaning.Similes, metaphors, and personification are all types of figurative language.
Inanimate ObjectSomething that is not alive and cannot move or act on its own, such as a rock, a car, or a cloud.The old car coughed and sputtered before finally starting.
Human Quality/ActionCharacteristics, behaviors, or emotions typically associated only with people, like laughing, thinking, feeling sad, or dancing.In ...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Identify the Non-Human Subject
Personification always applies a human quality or action to something that is not human (an object, animal, or idea).
Before you can personify, you need a non-human subject. This helps you focus on what you're bringing to life.
Assign a Human Trait
Choose a specific human action, emotion, or characteristic that you want to give to your non-human subject.
Think about what feeling or movement you want to convey. For example, if a tree is swaying, you might give it the human action of 'dancing' or 'waving'.
Create a Vivid Image or Feeling
The goal of personification is to make the non-human subject seem alive and relatable, creating a stronger image or evoking a particular mood.
Don't just state it; make it im...
5 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
The literal sentence 'The old gate opened' is boring. Which revision uses personification most effectively to create a mood of suspense and danger?
A.The old gate swung open with a happy creak.
B.The old gate, moaning in protest, reluctantly opened.
C.The old gate was like the mouth of a cave.
D.The old gate opened very slowly.
Challenging
A writer describes a city park: 'The trees whispered secrets. The benches invited walkers to rest. The fountain sang a cheerful song. The flowers danced in the breeze.' Based on the tutorial's 'Common Pitfalls,' what is the main risk of using this much personification in one paragraph?
A.The reader might think the park is actually alive.
B.The writing can become distracting and lose its impact due to overuse.
C.It is difficult to understand the literal meaning of the paragraph.
D.This technique is too simple for a 6th-grade reader.
Challenging
Read the passage: 'The wind, a playful puppy, nipped at my heels. But the clouds, old men with grumpy faces, gathered and promised a storm.' Which statement provides the best analysis of the author's use of figurative language here?
A.The author only uses personification to describe the weather.
B.The author uses a metaphor for the wind and personification for the clouds to show a shift in mood from playful to threatening.
C.The author uses a simile for the wind and a metaphor for the clouds to create a confusing tone.
D.The author uses personification for the wind and a literal description for the clouds.
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