Personification
Elementary School
Definition
A figure of speech that gives human qualities to animals, objects, or ideas. For example, "the wind howled" gives the wind the human ability to howl. Personification makes descriptions more vivid and brings non-human things to life.
Worked examples
"The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky."
Stars cannot actually dance — giving them this human action makes the night sky feel alive and joyful.
"Time marched on, indifferent to our pleas."
Time, an abstract idea, is given the human ability to march and feel indifference.
Common mistakes
- "The dog barked loudly" is personification because it describes an animal → personification gives human traits to non-humans; barking is what dogs naturally do Personification requires giving a human quality the thing doesn't naturally have.
- confusing personification with metaphor when both compare things → personification specifically gives human qualities; metaphor is a broader comparison All personification involves comparison, but not all metaphors are personification.
- "The angry storm" is just an adjective, not personification → giving a storm the human emotion of anger is personification Emotions like anger, jealousy, and joy are human qualities that personify non-human things.
Where you'll use it next
You'll use personification when analyzing poetry, stories, and speeches for figurative language, and in your own creative and descriptive writing to make imagery more engaging and memorable.
See also
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026