personification

PERSONIFICATION

Human Characteristics

Map Tap Personification (figurative language)

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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.


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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.


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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

branches3. The computer devoured information all day

long.4. The hikers left the meadow and were

swallowed by the forest.


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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.


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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.


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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.

personification

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