Personification
Literary term · say it per-son-uh-fih-KAY-shun
Personification is a figure of speech that gives human feelings, actions, or qualities to something nonhuman. It can make nature seem alive, give an object a personality, or turn an idea such as death into a person.
Ways personification appears
Human qualities in nature
Something in nature seems to feel, think, or act like a person. This can help a reader picture a scene or understand a character’s feelings.
In the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo imagines the moon feeling jealous of Juliet’s beauty. The moon takes on a human emotion.
In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Ideas as people
An abstract idea appears as a human figure. A reader can then picture something that cannot normally be seen or touched.
In A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals two ragged children called Ignorance and Want. Their suffering gives human shape to social problems.
In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
How to spot personification
- Look for descriptions of nature, objects, or ideas.
- Notice any human feelings, intentions, or actions given to them.
- Ask what those human qualities help you picture or understand.
What is the difference between personification and anthropomorphism?
Personification gives something nonhuman a human quality, while anthropomorphism usually presents it as behaving like a human character. A jealous moon is personification; an animal that wears clothes, holds a job, and talks with friends is anthropomorphism. The terms can overlap.
What is the difference between personification and pathetic fallacy?
Pathetic fallacy is a kind of personification that gives human feelings to nature, often reflecting the mood of a scene. Personification is broader: it can also describe a clock as scolding or turn an abstract idea into a human figure.
Related terms
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