Print Personification Worksheets
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Explain the Figurative Language
Find four examples of figurative language in the rhyme. Explain each one.
She Sweeps with Many Colored Brooms
This poem is an example of personification. What is being personified as the "housewife, broom, shreds, and threads?"
Where Is It In Poetry?
Explain how this technique is used in the first and second set of underlined lines. You may need to think more conceptually.
Windows and Dinner
At the first sign of morning light, the alarm clock rang with glee. The old cat marched into the room and demanded his dinner. You will need to highlight where this technique is being used.
Animal Styles
Underline the idea, object, or animal being personified, and circle what they are doing that makes this an example of literary device.
Find Where It Gets Personal
Read each sentence. If it uses personification, write YES on the line. If it doesn't, write NO.
Crab Over the Moon
In each sentence, an object or an idea is personified. Locate it and then answer the questions.
Practice That Purpose
Personification is a kind of figurative language that attributes human thoughts, actions, characteristics or emotions to something that is not human. In this exercise, you will practice using it when writing about a house.
Cloudy Thoughts
Write a short paragraph personifying each object. Use the verbs that you thought of above. You may add human emotions and characteristics as well.
Writing with a Personal Touch
Write four verbs that humans do that could be applied to. Write a paragraph personifying each object. Use the verbs you listed as a starting point. Add other human characteristics.
Picture Me Puzzled
Use each picture as inspiration to write a sentence that adds a more human quality to the work.
Sentenced to Write
Write a sentence that personifies each object, using the keyword provided. You can be creative on this worksheet.
Word Placements
Complete each sentence using a verb that creates a more human feeling. Make each selection more warm, as you go along.
What's with the Weather?
Use each idea below to write a sentence that brings something to life for the reader. Write a sentence to go with each picture. Your sentence should use this technique.
The following collection of worksheets will help your students learn about personification. Activities include explaining the literal meaning of a given words, identifying examples of it within a given passage, working off of prompts, identifying the object being personified within a given sentence, writing original sentences using supplied objects and examples of the work, and more. Why not make everything just a little more human? Give them a solid touch of what it means to have a life.
Why is Personification Used in Writing?
Personification is a literary device used to give non-human objects or concepts human characteristics. Merriam Webster defines it as a “representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form.”
We find the art of personification in Greek literature symbolizing that it has been used since the 17th century. The Greeks were polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods. Each god represented a different aspect of life, such as love, wisdom, war, agriculture, etc. The Greeks used this type of figurative language to describe the gods' actions and emotions.
In literature, personification is often used to give a more concrete image to abstract ideas or concepts. This technique can make it easier for readers to understand what is being described and create a more vivid and engaging reading experience. The writer can make the story or poem more relatable and interesting by giving human qualities to inanimate objects or ideas.
In some cases, this type of figurative language may be used for comic effect, adding humor to the text. Whatever the purpose, this literary device is a useful tool for crafting an imaginative and memorable writing piece.
Why do Writers Use Personification?
Writers use pethis technique to give their writing a more human feel and make their writing more interesting and engaging. Personification allows writers to create vivid images and explore complex emotions and ideas in a more relatable way.
By focusing on human traits and characteristics, these writers draw the reader's attention to what is important rather than simply straightforwardly presenting the information.
When writers personify an object or concept, they give it human characteristics. For example, a writer might personify the sun as a warm and friendly presence that brings happiness, or they might personify darkness as a cold and menacing force that brings fear. This type of figurative language can be used to make abstract concepts more solid, making them relatable.
Examples by the Great Writers
Dickens personifies death as a "grim reaper" in his novel "A Tale of Two Cities." In the passage, death is depicted as a cold, heartless figure who takes away loved ones without regard for their feelings.
In William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies," the devil's character is used to represent the darkness and evil within human nature. The devil symbolizes Jack's descent into savagery and his attempts to control the other boys on the island. He is also associated with fear, as he instils panic in those who encounter him.
In George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm," the character Squealer represents the propaganda machine of the Soviet Union. He can convince the animals that whatever Napoleon, the leader of the farm, says is true, even if it contradicts what they have previously been told. Squealer can twist the truth and use language to control the thoughts and beliefs of others.
In John Keat's poem "Daffodils," the flowers are personified as having feelings and emotions. For example, the daffodils are said to be "greeting" one another, and they are described as being "happy." This use of personification gives the flowers a sense of life and personality, which makes them more relatable to the reader.
The daffodils are also said to be "dancing" in the poem. This is another example of this, as the flowers are given the human quality of movement. This image creates a sense of joy and energy within the poem, which is further reinforced by the use of words such as "gleam" and "sparkle." Overall, the use of personification in this poem helps to make the daffodils more relatable to readers, emphasizing their beauty and vitality.
Ending Note
Personification is a powerful tool that writers can add depth and dimension to their writing. When used effectively, it can make writing more interesting, engaging, and relatable to readers.
However, when used excessively or inappropriately, it can be distracting, confusing, or even downright silly. As always, a writer needs to strike the right balance between style and substance to create something that effectively captures their readers' attention and imagination.