Why It Matters
Personification makes your writing feel alive. When the wind "howls" or a house "watches," the world of your story becomes richer and more atmospheric.
Examples
“The wind howled through the empty streets, searching for someone to torment.”
-- Model answerWeak vs Strong Comparisons
“The trees moved in the wind.”
“The trees danced wildly, their branches reaching for the sky.”
“The door was hard to open.”
“The door groaned in protest, reluctant to reveal what lay behind it.”
“The sun came out.”
“The sun shouldered its way through the clouds and beamed down at us.”
Personification is one of the easiest techniques to use naturally. Try it with weather (the rain "hammered"), buildings (the house "slept"), or emotions (fear "crept" in). It works especially well for creating atmosphere.
Practice Exercises
Try these exercises to practise using personification in your own writing. Click "Show Suggestions" to see example answers.
1
Personify the sea during a storm.
The sea roared with fury, hurling waves at the shore like a giant throwing stones.
The ocean raged and thrashed, determined to swallow the coastline whole.
2
Personify an old clock.
The clock ticked patiently, counting out the seconds with the steady rhythm of a heartbeat.
The clock had seen it all — decades of arguments, laughter, and silence — and kept ticking through every one.
3
Personify silence.
Silence crept into the room and settled in the corners like dust.
The silence was a guest that had overstayed its welcome, heavy and impossible to ignore.
Related Techniques
Simile
A comparison between two things using the words "like" or "as".
Explore
Metaphor
A direct comparison that says something IS something else, without using "like" or "as".
Explore
Pathetic Fallacy
Using weather or the natural environment to reflect or mirror a character's mood or the atmosphere of a scene.
Explore