Personification Definition:
* Giving human qualities or characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas.
Identifying Personification in Poems:
1. Look for Actions or Emotions: Notice if non-human things are doing things that humans typically do, or expressing emotions.
* Example: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees." (Wind can't whisper, but humans can.)
2. Identify Human-Like Qualities: Look for descriptions that attribute human traits to non-human entities.
* Example: "The sun smiled down on the earth." (Suns don't smile, but humans do.)
3. Consider the Context: Sometimes, the personification is subtle. Think about the overall meaning and purpose of the poem. Is the author trying to create a specific feeling or evoke a particular image through this figurative language?
Examples of Personification in Poems:
* "The trees swayed in the gentle breeze." (Trees don't sway on their own, they are moved by the breeze.)
* "The clouds cried tears of rain." (Clouds don't cry, but rain is often associated with tears.)
* "Justice demands a voice." (Justice is an abstract concept, it can't literally demand anything.)
Important Note: Personification isn't always obvious. Sometimes, poets use it to create a powerful image or evoke a specific emotion without making it explicitly clear that they are using this figure of speech.