Personification

Nose I am nose. I live on a head. I wear nothing. My job is to smell and my hobby is sneezing. My friends are other noses. On vacation, I go to Nose York. I feel nosy. -John Saxon, age 8

What is personification? Personification is a type of figurative language that gives human characteristics to an item that is not human.

Examples of personification: The clouds were crying droplets of rain. The computer complained that it had too many programs going at once.

Why use personification? It helps to make the writing more vivid and descriptive.

My Friends I am the ocean, salty and swirling. My cousins are the rivers, the seas, and the lakes. When I don’t have company, I wave at the sky Because I know Moon or sun will wave back. -Nicholas Quint, age 10

Pickles Pickles like to gossip with their friends In pickle barrels Rubbing shoulders Bumping hips Bobbing in the waves. They talk excitedly all at once Happy and safe in their life preservers, Slurring, wiggling, gulping Giggling, wiggling, jiggling In their vinegar sea. - Katie Chalfant

Re-write the following sentences using personification: The grass was moving because of the wind. The wind made a noise as it blew. The car broke down close to home.

Possible re-writes: The grass danced as the wind blew. The wind sang her beautiful song. Just a few blocks from home, the car gave out one last sigh and died.