English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Use personification
Use personification
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define personification and distinguish it from related literary devices like anthropomorphism and metaphor.
Identify multiple examples of personification within complex literary and poetic texts.
Analyze the specific effect of personification on a text's mood, tone, and characterization.
Create original sentences that use personification to achieve a specific rhetorical effect (e.g., to create sympathy, fear, or joy).
Evaluate the effectiveness of an author's use of personification in a given passage.
Incorporate purposeful personification into their own analytical and creative writing to enhance imagery and meaning.
Have you ever felt like your phone was stubbornly ignoring you or the wind was whispering secrets? 🤔 That's personification...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PersonificationA figure of speech where an inanimate object, animal, or abstract idea is given human qualities, abilities, or emotions.The tired old car coughed and sputtered before finally giving up.
AnthropomorphismA more literal form of personification where animals or objects behave and speak as if they are actually human beings. This is common in fables and cartoons.In 'Winnie the Pooh,' the animals talk, wear clothes, and live in houses. This is anthropomorphism, not just personification.
Inanimate ObjectA non-living thing that cannot move or act on its own. This is the 'thing' that receives the human qualities in personification.The 'rock' in 'The stubborn rock refused to move.'
Abstract IdeaA concept or idea that does n...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Core Formula
[Inanimate Object/Abstract Idea] + [Human Verb/Adjective]
This is the fundamental structure of personification. Start with the non-human thing you want to describe, then assign it an action or quality typically associated with humans. This simple formula is the building block for all personification.
Match the Trait to the Tone
The chosen human quality must align with the intended mood or tone of the writing.
Don't just pick a random human action. If you want to create a scary mood, use verbs like 'screamed,' 'grabbed,' or 'lurked.' For a peaceful mood, use verbs like 'whispered,' 'slept,' or 'danced.' The specific word choice is critical for achieving the desired effect.
Show, Don't J...
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Challenging
An author describes a new technology as having 'a generous heart but a clumsy mind.' Evaluate this use of personification. What complex idea does this specific word choice convey?
A.It suggests the technology is well-intentioned and beneficial, but prone to errors and inefficiencies.
B.It implies the technology is intentionally malicious and deceptive.
C.It means the technology is perfect and has no flaws.
D.It indicates the technology is simple and easy for anyone to use.
Challenging
Read the short poem: 'The tired old fence / Leans on the wind, / And sighs a long, low / Wooden sound.' Which of the following thesis statements best analyzes the role of personification in the poem?
A.The poem is about a fence that is about to fall down in a storm.
B.Through the personification of the fence as a weary, sighing figure, the poet develops a central theme of quiet endurance in the face of time and hardship.
C.The poem uses personification, simile, and metaphor to describe a rural landscape.
D.The author's use of the word 'sighs' proves that the fence is alive.
Challenging
A student writes: 'The factory was polluting the river. The smoke from the smokestacks was dark.' Based on the tutorial, how could the student best incorporate purposeful personification to enhance this analytical description and create a more critical tone?
A.The factory was a monster.
B.The factory was bad for the river.
C.The factory greedily drank from the river, exhaling a foul, black breath into the sky.
D.The factory's smokestacks were like tall, dark towers.
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