Figures of speech Personification
Focus
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Ideas for further practice
Personification
Teac he r
Definition
• On small cards, write a number of ‘human’ verbs (about half as many as there are students in the class) and a matching number of nouns (including abstract nouns such as feelings and ideas). Give one card to each student. Those with nouns find a verb partner that matches and together they create a short poem including the noun and the verb. For example, ‘invited’ and ‘the stars’ might pair up the create a poem about the stars inviting the moon to join them in a celestial celebration. • Students could take note of personification on television commercials. Often animals, foods and ideas are personified to make the commercials more interesting to the target audience.
ew i ev Pr
• Personification is a way of describing non-human things (such as animals and inanimate objects) using human terms, traits and abilities, such as speaking. Example: The trees danced as the wind galloped through the forest.
Explanation
• Personifying an object can help readers understand, empathise, connect or react emotionally to non-human characters. Personification can inspire imagery and emotion and provide a different perspective. • Personification is often used in poetry, fables and fairytales.
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• Riddles often contain personification and provide an interesting means for students to practise personifying abstract nouns. • If possible, read a number of riddles to the students. Students may need to hear more than two riddles before they are able to create their own. Then read those on the worksheet with them and discuss how something nonhuman can be described with human traits and abilities. Practise creating one about a familiar classroom item, event or idea (such as recess or a pencil). • Students complete the worksheet by linking nouns to a fitting description, writing two personified descriptions of their own, then finally writing a riddle.
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Primary grammar and word study
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Worksheet information
1. (a) red – dangerous and hot, stay away from me! (b) camera – watching, waiting for just the right moment (c) night – in a thick, dark coat, he sweeps across the land (d) rock – stubborn and lazy, tripping people up (e) morning – fresh, happy and full of hope (f) wisdom – ancient and weary, sitting by his books 2–3. Teacher check, answers will vary.
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