Definition
What is personification?
Giving human characteristics to non-human things.
Personification attributes human characteristics—emotions, behaviors, intentions—to non-human things: animals, objects, concepts, or nature. It's one of the oldest literary devices, making abstract concepts tangible and creating emotional connections to the non-human world. When 'death comes knocking' or 'the sun smiled down,' readers process these experiences through their understanding of human behavior. Personification can be subtle (the wind 'whispered') or elaborate (Death as a character who speaks and chooses).
On the page
Personification examples
“The wind howled through the night.”
“Opportunity knocked at his door.”
Famous examples in literature
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
Death narrates the entire novel—a fully personified character with opinions, weariness, and something like compassion.
Animal Farm
George Orwell
The animals are personified to represent human political types, creating allegorical power through familiar human behaviors.
The Raven
Edgar Allan Poe
The raven's repeated 'Nevermore' gives it ominous, almost prophetic human-like intention, embodying the narrator's despair.
For writers
How writers use personification
- Give weather and nature human emotions that mirror or contrast with characters
- Use human verbs for inanimate objects: doors 'groan,' fires 'devour'
- Create fully personified characters (Death, Time, Love) for allegory
- Match the personification to your tone—playful or sinister
Why it matters
- Makes abstract concepts emotionally accessible
- Creates memorable, vivid imagery from the inanimate
- Helps readers connect to non-human elements of the story
- Can make settings feel alive and responsive to characters
Across different genres
The house 'breathes,' darkness 'reaches,' shadows 'watch'—personification makes settings malevolent
The rain 'weeps,' the sunset 'blushes'—nature mirrors emotional states
Concepts become characters—Death plays games, Time bargains, Nature seeks balance
Toys come alive, animals talk, the moon keeps watch—a genre built on personification
Common pitfalls
- Overuse: Too much personification becomes purple prose
- Clichés: 'Time flies' and 'life's a journey' have lost their power
- Mixed signals: Don't personify randomly—patterns should have meaning
- Confusion: Distinguish personification (brief attribution) from anthropomorphism (full character)
Try it in your own writing
- Horror: Write a scene where a house actively resists its inhabitants—give it intention without explanation
- Literary: Personify an abstract concept (Grief, Hope, Memory) as a character who interacts with the protagonist
- Children's: Give three everyday objects distinct personalities and have them interact
Quick answers
Personification FAQ
What is personification?
Giving human characteristics to non-human things. Personification attributes human characteristics—emotions, behaviors, intentions—to non-human things: animals, objects, concepts, or nature. It's one of the oldest literary devices, making abstract concepts tangible and creating emotional connections to the non-human world. When 'death comes knocking' or 'the sun smiled down,' readers process these experiences through their understanding of human behavior. Personification can be subtle (the wind 'whispered') or elaborate (Death as a character who speaks and chooses).
What are some examples of personification?
The examples on this page include Example of Personification and Example of Personification. Each one shows how the device works in context.
How can writers use personification effectively?
Give weather and nature human emotions that mirror or contrast with characters Use human verbs for inanimate objects: doors 'groan,' fires 'devour' Create fully personified characters (Death, Time, Love) for allegory