Personification 3

8/2/2019 Personification 3

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PersonificationPersonification

PersonificationPersonification is giving human traits (qualities,is giving human traits (qualities,

feelings, action, or characteristics) to nonfeelings, action, or characteristics) to non--livingliving

objects (things, colors, qualities, or ideas).objects (things, colors, qualities, or ideas).

For example:For example: The window winked at me.The window winked at me.


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Turn to the window.Turn to the window.Do you see it winking?Do you see it winking?

Are you really trying?Are you really trying?Look hardLook hard-- Can youCan you

see it yet?see it yet?


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Gotcha!!!Gotcha!!!No, ofNo, of--course you dontcourse you dont windows cant winkwindows cant wink --silly!silly!

The verb, wink, is a human action. A windowThe verb, wink, is a human action. A window

is a nonis a non--living object.living object.

TaDa!! Personification!TaDa!! Personification!


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Here are some personificationHere are some personificationexamples.examples.

TheThe sailboat dancedsailboat danced gracefully past us.gracefully past us.

TheThe flames ateflames ate hungrily at the burning house.hungrily at the burning house.

The onceThe once--proudproud trees benttrees bent meekly before themeekly before thestorm.storm.

The broad, flatThe broad, flat rock lay sunning itselfrock lay sunning itselfby theby the

stream.stream.


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Notice how personification creates aNotice how personification creates aword picture.word picture.

Your Turn. Can you recognize theYour Turn. Can you recognize thepersonification in each sentence below?personification in each sentence below?

1.1. The fog crept silently into the valley.The fog crept silently into the valley.

2.2. The tree fought the wind with itsThe tree fought the wind with itsbranchesbranches

3.3. The computer devoured informationThe computer devoured informationall day long.all day long.

4.4. The hikers left the meadow and wereThe hikers left the meadow and were

swallowed by the forest.swallowed by the forest.


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What is the object being personifiedWhat is the object being personifiedand the meaning of the personificationand the meaning of the personification

in these sentences?in these sentences?

The wind sang her mournful song through theThe wind sang her mournful song through the

falling leaves.falling leaves. The microwave timer told me it was time toThe microwave timer told me it was time to

turn my TV dinner.turn my TV dinner.

The video camera observed the whole scene.The video camera observed the whole scene. The strawberries seemed to sing, "Eat meThe strawberries seemed to sing, "Eat me

first!"first!"


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With your group, determine the object beingWith your group, determine the object being

personifiedpersonified& what the personification is.& what the personification is.

1.1. The winter wrapped its icy claws around Northeast Pennsylvania.The winter wrapped its icy claws around Northeast Pennsylvania.2.2. The alarm clock screeched that it was time to get up.The alarm clock screeched that it was time to get up.

3.3. Fear grabbed me as I heard footsteps behind me.Fear grabbed me as I heard footsteps behind me.

4.4. The washer sputtered and groaned as it removed the mudThe washer sputtered and groaned as it removed the mud

from the knees of my old jeans.from the knees of my old jeans.

5.5. The printer spit out more copies than I needed.The printer spit out more copies than I needed.

6.6. The branches of the tree pointed to the old dirt road.The branches of the tree pointed to the old dirt road.7.7. The flood waters swallowed the trees in one big gulp.The flood waters swallowed the trees in one big gulp.

8.8. The stars winked at us from the night sky.The stars winked at us from the night sky.

9.9. Listening to the piano sing its happy tune made me want toListening to the piano sing its happy tune made me want to

dance.dance.

10.10. That carrot cake with the cream cheese icing is calling my name.That carrot cake with the cream cheese icing is calling my name.


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Poets often use this form ofPoets often use this form of

Figurative Language toFigurative Language tocreate exciting visual imagescreate exciting visual imageswith words.with words.


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What characteristics does thisWhat characteristics does thissnow have?snow have?

SNOWSNOW

Snow speaks to the people itsSnow speaks to the people itsfalling above in the gloomingfalling above in the glooming

sunlight.sunlight.Its white sparkling voiceIts white sparkling voice

echoesechoes

as it falls throughas it falls throughthe air.the air.

By JakeBy Jake


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"Summer Grass" by Carl"Summer Grass" by Carl

SandburgSandburg

SummerSummer grass aches and whispersgrass aches and whispers

ItIt wants something: it calls and sings; it pourswants something: it calls and sings; it pours

out wishesout wishes to the overhead stars.to the overhead stars.

The rain hears; the rain answers;The rain hears; the rain answers; the rain isthe rain is

slowslow coming;coming;

TThe rain wets the face of the grass.he rain wets the face of the grass.


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April Rain SongApril Rain Song

Let the rain kiss you.Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquidLet the rain beat upon your head with silver liquiddrops.drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.Let the rain sing you a lullaby.The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.

The rain makes running pools in the gutter.The rain makes running pools in the gutter.

The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night.The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night.

And I love the rain.And I love the rain.

by Langston Hughesby Langston Hughes


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What are Langston Hughes'What are Langston Hughes'

feelings toward rain?feelings toward rain?What does he want hisWhat does he want his

audience to do?audience to do?

How does personification helpHow does personification helphim make his point?him make his point?

What do you notice about theWhat do you notice about thelanguage he uses to describelanguage he uses to describe

the rain?the rain?


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Time for you to test yourTime for you to test yourpersonification talents!!!personification talents!!!

Oh, dont act surprised.Oh, dont act surprised.You knew this was coming!You knew this was coming!


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Create Your Own Pet RockCreate Your Own Pet Rock

Glue on wiggly eyesGlue on wiggly eyes

Name your petName your pet

Give him/her human characteristicsGive him/her human characteristics

Using your writers journal write aUsing your writers journal write a

story or a poem told from your petstory or a poem told from your petrocks point of view.rocks point of view.


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Now go make magic!!!!!Now go make magic!!!!!

Personification 3

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