Let’s bring language to life! Personification is a magical way to make writing more vivid, creative, and fun—especially for kids. By giving human traits to animals, objects, or ideas, students can better imagine, express, and connect with the world around them.

In this guide, you’ll find 50+ easy examples of personification drawn from everyday language, literature, poetry, and songs. Plus, grab our printable worksheets at the end to turn these examples into classroom-ready activities.

What Is Personification?

Personification is a type of figurative language where non-human things—like animals, objects, or ideas—are given human traits or actions.

It helps writers paint vivid images or bring emotions to life.

What is personification?

What is personification?

Download this personification worksheet to help students understand figurative language with fun and relatable examples!

Examples:

  • “The wind whispered through the trees.”
  • “My alarm clock screamed at me to wake up.”

These sentences make objects (wind, clock) act like people to create a more engaging story or feeling.

Why Should Kids Learn Personification?

Teaching personification to kids has powerful benefits, especially in building vocabulary, creativity, and reading comprehension. Here’s how:

  • Boosts Creative Writing: Students can write more vivid stories and poetry.
  • Enhances Reading Comprehension: Many poems and books use figurative language. Knowing how personification works helps kids analyze deeper meanings.
  • Builds Emotional Intelligence: By giving human emotions to objects or animals, kids relate better to complex ideas like fear, joy, or loneliness.
  • Expands Vocabulary: Encourages new descriptive words and expressions.

Want to take it further? Use visuals, stories, and hands-on activities to make personification an exciting classroom adventure!

Examples of Personification

Here comes the fun part! We’ve broken down the best examples of personification into categories so you can pick the perfect ones for your classroom.

Everyday Language Examples

Personification is often found in our daily language without us even realizing it.

Examples of personification in everyday language

Examples of personification in everyday language

Download this worksheet to explore fun examples of personification in everyday language!

  • “The wind howled through the night.”
    • The wind can’t actually howl like a wolf, but this makes us imagine loud, eerie wind sounds.
  • “The sun smiled down on us.”
    • The sun doesn’t have a face, but saying it smiled helps describe a bright, pleasant day.
  • “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
    • Time doesn’t have wings, but this expression means time feels like it’s moving fast.
  • “My homework stared at me all day.”
    • Homework can’t stare, but this shows how it feels when you’re trying to ignore it.
  • “The car grumbled when it started.”
    • Cars can make rough noises, and “grumbled” gives it a moody, human-like sound.
  • “The fire danced in the fireplace.”
    • Fire doesn’t dance, but its flickering movement looks like it’s moving gracefully.
  • “The phone yelled at me with its ringtone.”
    • Phones don’t yell, but a loud ringtone can feel like it’s shouting at you.
  • “The clock watched me every minute.”
    • A clock can’t watch, but this shows the feeling of being under pressure.
  • “The thunder grumbled in anger.”
    • Thunder doesn’t get angry, but the loud rumbling sounds remind us of a grumpy person.
  • “The cookies called my name.”
    • Cookies can’t talk, but this means they looked so tasty it felt like they were tempting you.
  • “The leaves whispered secrets to each other.”
    • Leaves can’t whisper, but this phrase creates a soft, mysterious image of wind moving through trees.
  • “The alarm clock nagged me to wake up.”
    • Clocks can’t nag, but this reflects the annoyance of repeated ringing.
  • “The traffic crawled through the city.”
    • Cars don’t crawl, but it emphasizes the slowness of movement during congestion.
  • “Opportunity knocked at my door.”
    • Opportunity is an abstract concept, but this phrase suggests a moment to take action, as if it came to visit like a person.
  • “My stomach growled for lunch.”
    • Stomachs don’t growl like animals, but this vividly expresses hunger.

These expressions not only convey meaning but make our language more memorable.

Personification Examples in Literature

Authors often use personification to bring scenes and emotions to life. Here are a few iconic lines:

Examples of personification in literature

Examples of personification in literature

Download this worksheet to help students explore personification examples in literature and enjoy figurative language in action.

  • “And the tree was happy” – The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
    • In this classic story, the tree is given emotions and thoughts, showing deep care for the boy.
  • “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others.” – Animal Farm by George Orwell.
    • The animals take on full human societal roles like politics, planning, and governance.
  • “Because it was grassy and wanted wear.” – The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.
    • The road is given the human desire of wanting something, suggesting it longs to be traveled.
  • “Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness.” – Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats.
    • The urn is portrayed as a bride, given purity and mystery, symbolic of untouched beauty.
  • “He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her.” – The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
    • The sea is personified as a woman with moods, relationships, and emotions.
  • “Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it.” – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
    • The town is described as physically and emotionally tired, suggesting a worn-down personality.
  • “One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it.” – The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe.
    • The eye is described with malevolence, treated almost like a living entity haunting the narrator.
  • “The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg… brood on over the solemn dumping ground.” – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
    • A billboard with painted eyes is given the human ability to brood and judge the world below.
  • “The teapot sang as the water boiled” — Beauty and the Beast
    • Characters like Mrs. Potts and Lumière show full personalities and emotions, acting as guides and entertainers.
  • “Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor’s garden” — The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
    • Rabbits don’t understand rules like humans, but Peter is written with human emotions like disobedience and fear.
  • “Toys come alive and interact with each other” — Toy Story by Pixar
    • Characters like Woody and Buzz have full emotional arcs and friendships, making toys seem human.
  • “Simba mourns and questions his destiny” — The Lion King (film & book)
    • Lions express guilt, grief, and leadership struggle, which are human characteristics.

Personification Examples in Poetry

Poets use personification to stir emotion and deepen imagery. Here are examples:

Examples of personification in poetry

Examples of personification in poetry

Discover classic personification examples in poetry with this engaging worksheet.

  • “The moon doth with delight / Look round her when the heavens are bare.” — Ode: Intimations of Immortality by William Wordsworth
    • Nature is vividly personified with joy, nurturing care, and reflective presence.
  • “It sits looking / over harbor and city / on silent haunches / and then moves on.” — Fog by Carl Sandburg
    • Fog is not only quiet but almost a living observer, gentle and mysterious.
  • “The sea that bares her bosom to the moon.” — London, 1802 by William Wordsworth
    • The sea is personified as a woman baring her chest, vulnerable yet majestic.
  • “Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.”— Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare
    • The boughs and choirs express aging and emotional decay, rich in human feelings.
  • “The wind made mournful music.” — The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Natural elements are animated with power, movement, and emotion.
  • “What immortal hand or eye / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” — The Tyger by William Blake
    • Stars are given sorrow and action, reinforcing the poem’s mystery and awe.
  • “Summer surprised us.” — The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot
    • Months and seasons are imbued with human moods and reactions.
  • “I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.” — Mirror by Sylvia Plath
    • The mirror speaks directly to the reader and describes how it reflects truth without judgment.
  • “Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul,” — Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson
    • Hope becomes a bird, nesting in the soul and singing endlessly. This comforting image gives emotional strength a relatable, physical form.

Personification Examples in Songs

Even music is filled with this playful device:

Download this Personification in Songs worksheet and help students connect music and literary devices.

  • “This old guitar taught me to sing a love song” — John Denver
    • The guitar can’t teach, but it’s described as a companion.
  • “The wind whispers Mary” — Jimi Hendrix
    • The wind doesn’t talk, but whispering adds a soft, emotional tone.
  • “Hello from the other side” — Hello by Adele
    • The side is treated as a physical being one can call from.
  • “Cause baby, you’re a firework.” — Firework by Katy Perry
    • A person is compared to a firework, giving the object emotional power.
  • “Time won’t let me go” — The Bravery
    • Time can’t hold you, but it feels like it when you’re stuck in the past.
  • “Lightning strikes every time she moves” — One Direction
    • Lightning can’t time itself with movement, but it adds drama and power.
  • “Time stood still.” — She’s in Love with the Boy by Trisha Yearwood
    • Time is given the human ability to stop or pause.
  • “Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you.” — Ironic by Alanis Morissette
    • Life is personified as a trickster or prankster.
  • “Hello darkness, my old friend.” — The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel
    • Darkness is addressed as an old friend.
  • “The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside.” — Let It Go from Frozen
    • The wind reflects Elsa’s emotions, giving it expressive power.

Anthropomorphic vs Personification: What’s the Difference?

While personification and anthropomorphism may seem similar, they are distinct concepts.

Distinguish between anthropomorphic and personification

Distinguish between anthropomorphic and personification

Download this Anthropomorphism vs Personification chart to help students compare key literary techniques with ease.

Key difference:

  • Personification gives human-like traits to non-human things in figurative language (not literally alive).
  • Anthropomorphism makes non-human things ACTUALLY human, often literally behaving like people, especially in storytelling.

Examples:

  • Personification: “The moon followed me home.”
    • The moon doesn’t really follow you, but it’s described in a human-like way for poetic effect.
  • Anthropomorphism: “Bugs Bunny eats carrots and makes jokes.”
    • Bugs Bunny isn’t just described like a human—he acts and talks like one.

Tip: If the object or animal is acting like a person consistently throughout a story, that’s anthropomorphism. If it’s just a figure of speech, that’s personification.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are 5 examples of personification?

  • “The leaves whispered secrets.”
  • “The clock stared at me all day.”
  • “The sun stretched its arms over the hills.”
  • “The ocean roared in anger.”
  • “The fire danced with joy.”

2. What is personification for kids?

Personification is when we say that things like animals or objects act like people—like “the moon smiled.” It’s a fun way to make writing more exciting.

3. What is the purpose of personification?

The primary purpose of personification is to create vivid imagery and evoke emotional responses in readers, making the text more engaging and relatable.

4. Can personification be used in everyday writing?

Absolutely! Personification can be used in everyday language to enhance descriptions and make conversations more imaginative and lively.

5. Where is personification in the poem?

Look for objects, animals, or ideas that do human things like talking, feeling, or acting. In “The daffodils danced”, the flowers are given human movement.

Wrapping Up

Personification is a fantastic way to make language come alive for kids. Whether you’re using it in poems, stories, songs, or everyday speech, it sparks creativity, builds vocabulary, and improves reading comprehension. With examples from literature, music, and daily life, your students will love learning this imaginative skill.

Ready to get started? Download our printable personification worksheets now at Worksheetzone.org and bring the fun into your classroom!