Literary Terms

Personification: Definition and Examples

Published May 3, 2025 · 4 views

Personification is an important term in literary studies. This page gives a clear definition, an example and tips on how to use it in essays.

Definition

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Example

The wind whispered through the trees.

How to Write About Personification

  • Identify where personification appears in the text.
  • Quote the exact words.
  • Explain the effect on the reader and link it to the writer's purpose.

See also: Literary Devices: Metaphor, Simile, Irony and More.