Transcript Figurative Language - Saint Xavier University

Personification
Personification
Giving human traits to nonhuman things
 Examples:
The raindrops kissed my cheeks as they fell from
the dark blue sky.
The sun smiled as the children played in its
warmth.
The car engine coughed and gagged as the driver
attempted to start the ancient car.
The firefighters wrestled with time as they
extinguished the burning blazes.

Personification
“Paper Dragons”
In March, kites bite the wind
And shake their paper scales.
They strain against their fiber chains
To free their dragon tails.
What line(s) is an example of personification?
Personification
“April Rain Song”
Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver
liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at
night—
And I love the rain.
Langston Hughes
Personification
“Foghorns”
The foghorns moaned
in the bay last night
so sad
so deep
I thought I heard the city
crying in its sleep.
Lilian Moore
Personification
“Check”
The Night was creeping on the ground!
She crept, and did not make a sound
Until she reached the tree: And then
She covered it, and stole again
Along the grass, beside the wall!
I heard the rustling of her shawl
As she threw blackness everywhere
Along the sky, the ground, the air,
And in the room where I was hid!
But no matter what she did
To everything that was without,
She could not put my candle out!
Personification
“City, City”
City, city
Wrong and bad,
Looms above me
When I’m sad,
Throws its shadow
On my care,
Sheds its poison
In my air,
Pounds me with its
Noisy fist,
Sprays me with its
Sooty mist.
Till, with sadness
On my face,
I wouldn’t live
Another place.
Personification
“Sunrise”
The city YAWNS
And rubs its eyes,
Like baking bread
Begins to rise.
Personification
“City”
In the morning the city
Spreads its wings
Making a song
In stone that sings
In the evening the city
Goes to bed
Hanging lights
About its head.