Examples of Personification

Everyone knows what a person is, but do you know what personification is? Personification is when you assign the qualities of a person to something that isn't human or, in some cases, to something that isn't even alive. There are many reasons for using personification. It can be used as a method of describing something so that others can understand. It can be used to emphasize a point. It is a commonly favored literary tool, and you may in fact use personification without even knowing it.

50 Ways to Use Personification

The following sentences use the personification technique. See if you can identify which part of the word or phrase is the personification. The answers are below:

1. The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.
2. The run down house appeared depressed.
3. The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow.
4. She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her door.
5. He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the door.
6. The bees played hide and seek with the flowers as they buzzed from one to another.
7. The wind howled its mighty objection.
8. The snow swaddled the earth like a mother would her infant child.
9. The river swallowed the earth as the water continued to rise higher and higher.
10. Time flew and before we knew it, it was time for me to go home.
11. The ocean waves lashed out at the boat and the storm continued to brew.
12. My computer throws a fit every time I try to use it.
13. The thunder grumbled like an old man.
14. The flowers waltzed in the gentle breeze.
15. Her life passed her by.
16. The sun glared down at me from the sky.
17. The moon winked at me through the clouds above.
18. The wind sang through the meadow.
19. The car was suffering and was in need of some TLC.
20. At precisely 6:30 am my alarm clock sprang to life.
21. The window panes were talking as the wind blew through them.
22. The ocean danced in the moonlight.
23. The words appeared to leap off of the paper as she read the story.
24. The phone awakened with a mighty ring.
25. The funeral raced by me in a blur.
26. While making my way to my car, it appeared to smile at me mischievously.
27. The car, painted lime green, raced by screaming for attention.
28. The butterflies in the meadow seemed to two-step with one another.
29. The waffle jumped up out of the toaster.
30. The popcorn leapt out of the bowl.
31. When the DVD went on sale, it flew off the shelves.
32. I tripped because the curb jumped out in front of me.
33. Time creeps up on you.
34. The news took me by surprise.
35. The fire ran wild.
36. The thunder clapped angrily in the distance.
37. The tornado ran through town without a care.
38. The door protested as it opened slowly.
39. The evil tree was lurking in the shadows.
40. The tree branch moaned as I swung from it.
41. Time marches to the beat of its own drum.
42. The storm attacked the town with great rage.
43. My life came screeching to a halt.
44. The baseball screamed all the way into the outfield.
45. The blizzard swallowed the town.
46. The tsunami raced towards the coastline.
47. The avalanche devoured everything in its path.
48. The pistol glared at me from its holster.
49. The car beckoned me from across the showroom.
50. I could hear Hawaii calling my name.

Identifying the Personification

Here's a quick review of the personification from the fifty sentences aboves. The subject being personified is underlined. The human trait assigned to the subject is in bold.

1. The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.
2. The run down house appeared depressed.
3. The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow.
4. She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her door.
5. He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the door.
6. The bees played hide and seek with the flowers as they buzzed from one to another.
7. The wind howled its mighty objection.
8. The snow swaddled the earth like a mother would her infant child.
9. The river swallowed the earth as the water continued to rise higher and higher.
10. Time flew and before we knew it, it was time for me to go home.
11. The ocean waves lashed out at the boat and the storm continued to brew.
12. My computer throws a fit every time I try to use it.
13. The thunder grumbled like an old man.
14. The flowers waltzed in the gentle breeze.
15. Her life passed her by.
16. The sun glared down at me from the sky.
17. The moon winked at me through the clouds above.
18. The wind sang through the meadow.
19. The car was suffering and was in need of some TLC.
20. At precisely 6:30 am my alarm clock sprang to life.
21. The window panes were talking as the wind blew through them.
22. The ocean danced in the moonlight.
23. The words leapt off of the paper as she read the story.
24. The phone awakened with a mighty ring.
25. The funeral raced by me in a blur.
26. While making my way to my car, it smiled at me mischievously.
27. Thecar, painted lime green, raced by screaming for attention.
28. The butterflies in the meadowseemed to two-step with one another.
29. The waffle jumped up out of the toaster.
30. The popcorn leapt out of the bowl.
31. When the DVD went on sale, it flew off the shelves.
32. I tripped because the curb jumped out in front of me.
33. Time creeps up on you.
34. The news took me by surprise.
35. The fire ran wild.
36. The thunder clapped angrily in the distance.
37. The tornado ran through town without a care.
38. The door protested as it opened slowly.
39. The evil tree was lurking in the shadows.
40. The tree branch moaned as I swung from it.
41. Time marches to the beat of its own drum.
42. The storm attacked the town with great rage.
43. My life came screeching to a halt.
44. The baseball screamed all the way into the outfield.
45. The blizzard swallowed the town.
46. The tsunami raced towards the coastline.
47. The avalanche devoured everything in its path.
48. The pistol glared at me from its holster.
49. The car beckoned me from across the showroom.
50. I could hear Hawaii calling my name.