Personification Examples

Personification can be described as a figure of speech in which an inanimate object is personified, by attributing human traits and qualities to it. In other words, whenever emotions, desires, sensations, physical gestures and speech are stated in context of non-living things, personification is said to have taken place. Through the technique, we describe lifeless things as human. The concept of personification is commonly used in poetry, where things are often described as having feelings. It is also widely used in fiction and children’s literature, though fiction is not likely to stay focused on the personified object for long. Personification is believed to be one of the most potent tools of literature. The technique makes it possible to describe something, which may be inexplicable otherwise. As such, the effectiveness of personification has been long recognized. It makes it easier to imagine a particular thing or object by creating its picture in the mind. It enables the reader to relate to the subject and imagine how a lifeless thing would have behaved, had it been human and able to emote. However, using the right description at the right time is the key to meaningfully personify anything. Below given are some examples of personification, which will help you to understand the concept in depth.

Examples of Personification

Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered. There was no one there. - Proverb
And like the flowers beside them chill and shiver, Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone - Robert Frost
Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing, through all her works, gave signs of woe. - John Milton
Snow speaks to the people, its falling above in the glooming sunlight. Its white sparkling voice echoes as it falls through the air - Jake
Velvet remembers how it wrapped around me. Keeping me warm on a snowy day. Velvet remembers how it laid softly on my bed. Velvet tells me not to forget it. - Rachael
The operation is over. On the table, the knife lies spent, on its side, the bloody meal smear-dried upon its flanks. The knife rests. - Richard Selzer, "The Knife"
Only the champion daisy trees were serene. After all, they were part of a rain forest already two thousand years old and scheduled for eternity, so they ignored the men and continued to rock the diamondbacks that slept in their arms. It took the river to persuade them that indeed the world was altered. - Toni Morrison, “Tar Baby”
The road isn't built that can make it breathe hard! - slogan for Chevrolet automobiles
Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie. - slogan for Oreo cookies
The only monster here is the gambling monster that has enslaved your mother! I call him Gamblor, and it's time to snatch your mother from his neon claws! - Homer Simpson, “The Simpsons”
Stars bring me up with you, bring me to the place you sleep. How do you do it? Bring me to your home. Bring your thoughts to me. Share them with me. - Alex
Hey Diddle, Diddle, the cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moon; the little dog laughed to see such sport. And the dish ran away with the spoon. - Mother Goose
My computer hates me.
The camera loves me.
Art is a jealous mistress.
Wind yells while blowing.
Opportunity knocked on the door.
The sun greeted me this morning.
Snow had wrapped a white blanket over the city.
Time never waits for anyone.
Trees were dancing with the wind.
The radio stopped singing and continued to stare at me.
The picture in that magazine shouted for attention.
Plants were suffering from the intense heat.
The flowers were crying for my attention.
Sun was playing hide and seek, amidst the clouds.
The car winked at me.
The lightning lashed out with anger.
The moon seemed to smile at me from the sky.
The sky was full of dancing stars.
The flowers begged for water.
The wind screamed as it raced around the house.
The house was lazy and unkempt.
The bit chewed into the horse’s mouth.
Lightning danced across the sky.
Trees bowed to the ground.
The carved pumpkin smiled at me.
The vines wove their fingers together to form a braid.
The wind whispered softly in the night.
The sun played hide and seek with the clouds.
The stars winked at me.
The radio sprang to life at the touch of a button.
The bed groaned.
The headlights winked.
Justice is blind and, at times, deaf.
Money is the only friend that I can count on.
He sang a lonely song to the moonlight.
The candle flame danced in the dark.
Thunder grumbled and raindrops reported for duty.
The moon turned over to face the day.
The brown grass was begging for water.
As fall turned to winter, the trees found themselves wearing white.
The sunflowers nodded in the wind.
The angry storm pounded the tin shelter.
The silence crept into the classroom.
This city never sleeps.
The sun stretched its golden arms across the plains.
Any trust I had for him walked right out the door.
Kiss your integrity goodbye.
He had little to live for now that his dreams were dead.
Still waters shivered in the wind.
December light is brief and uncharitable.
The party died as soon as she left.
Light had conquered darkness.
The cigarettes stole his health and spent it on phlegm.
And with those four words her happiness died.
My heart has been skipping around in my chest since I saw her.
The wind whistled throughout the day.
The road twisted and turned continuously for 100 miles.
Her jewelry clearly spoke about her wealth.
One look at the garden and you could tell that the plants were begging for water.
Anyone who has seen my photographs will know that the camera loves me.
The waves ran towards the shore with furious pace.
The leaves danced their way through the lawn.
Every morning, the Sun glanced at them with love.
A gentle wind caressed her cheeks as she lay on the soft grass.
Several dew drops decorated the otherwise plain window.
Poverty stared at him from every corner of the shattered town.
The jacket hugged him so tight, he couldn't breathe.
My stomach was punishing me for not eating on time.
It's the cigarette's job to tempt and lure.
The sun kissed the flowers.
Opportunity began to knock on my door.

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