What Are The Effects Of Personification?

Sophia_Wilson
Sophia_Wilson
4 min read

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Ever came across a sentence that used human qualities for non-human things? There is a high chance the author used personification in that sentence. Authors use personification to add a touch of reality to absolutely inanimate objects. Such are the effects of personification. Personification is a commonly used literary device to add more relevance to the context. Usually, designating human characteristics to non-human entities gives a clear and concise view of the author’s thought. Time flies, the wind howled, the sun glared, the moon winked etc., Students use such sentences every now and then without realising that all of these are examples of personification. 


What Is The Purpose of Personification?

Crystal clear insights into concepts and ideas: Personification creates figurative language and imagery. It specifies the viewpoints of the author’s thoughts. It is used widely in poems as it gives a direction to the poet’s imagination. 

Application in children books: Imagine storybooks with no involvement of inanimate things. Mind you; Anthropomorphism is a different but reasonably similar literary device. It involves creating a whole character out of non-living things—for example, Winnie the Pooh, Thomas the engine etc. Personification is used popularly in children's books. For instance, Happy clouds, smiling rainbow etc. This literary device adds context to children's readings.

Adds a Dramatic Flair to writing: As they walked away from each other, the moon cried the night away. This sentence stirs the flavour of drama in the piece of content. Such sentences romanticise the events. One of the most sought effects of personification is evoking an emotional response from the audience.

A vivid illustration of the setting: Personification helps the reader to imagine the scene of the poem/story with great precision. It adds new nuances to the entire backdrop-for example; The fog was pinching the skin. Authors use different types of personification to supplement their writing.


Here are a few examples of personification in a sentence

Personification is not only used in content pieces but also movies, advertisements, songs etc. 

A few common examples of personification

The waffle jumped up out of the toaster, straight into my plate.

My alarm clock yells at me to wake me up every morning.

After failing exams, the student’s life came screeching to a halt.


Example of personification in poetry

Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson

I wandered lonely as a crowd by William Wordsworth

Take a Poem to Lunch by Denise Rodgers

Tree at my Window by Robert Frost

The Mirror by Sylvia Plath


Personification in advertising

Oreo: Milk's favorite cookie-Oreo

Nothing hugs like Huggies-Huggies diapers

Gatorade always wins!-Gatorade

Hairbrush of your clothes-Scotch bright

The car that cares - Kia


Instances of personification in songs

Hummingbird Heartbeat by Katy Perry

Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

Your Love Is King by Sade


As the use of personification is quite common, professors often give assignments related to this poetry device. In such cases, students seek help with poetry essay.

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