What is

personification?

definition and examples

Personification is a literary device used to attribute human characteristics, qualities, or emotions to non-human objects, animals, or abstract ideas.

Definition

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Classic Literary Works Examples

Nathaniel Hawthorne: In “The Scarlet Letter,” the prison door is personified as a stern and forbidding presence in the opening chapter, reflecting the harshness of Puritan society.

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John Milton: In “Paradise Lost,” Milton personifies elements of nature, such as “the glistening rock” and “fantastic trees.”

Emily Dickinson: In her poem “Because I could not stop for Death,” death is personified as a gentleman caller who invites the speaker on a courteous journey to the afterlife.

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Contemporary Literary Examples

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J.K. Rowling: In the “Harry Potter” series, the Whomping Willow tree is personified as an aggressive, destructive character that flails its branches to attack those who come near.

Yann Martel: In “The Life of Pi,” The ocean is personified in several instances throughout the novel. At one point, the protagonist, Pi, refers to the ocean as having a “sense of humor,” describing the way it plays with him and his lifeboat during his ordeal.

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Markus Zusak: In “The Book Thief,” Death is personified as a sympathetic, weary character who serves as the story’s narrator. Death is given human emotions and thoughts, as well as a curiosity about the human condition.

Personification in Everyday Language

The old car groaned as it traveled along the road.

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Time marches on.

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