Iocabulary

Name Date

Personification
Use the text to answer each question below.

1. When we use literal language, we use words for their most strictly true definitions. When we use
figurative language, words may not be used for their strict definitions. Instead, we may use words more
symbolically to create a particular effect or express a feeling. We often use figurative language to add
drama or humor to writing and speech. It can also make descriptions more clear and powerful.

Read the following passage.

Winnie spent hours each day that summer at the beach. She’d listen to the ocean and feel the
wet sand under her toes as she stood at the shoreline. The sun warmed her skin, and she watched
children swimming, 6ut she didn’t go into the water herself. That was the August when Winnie’s
world began crumbling around her. She was twelve, and soon she would turn thirteen. She had
just moved to this quiet seaside town. She missed the crowds and the lights and even the noise
of traffic in the big city where she’d lived until that July. More than anything else, she missed her
friends. She’d stay at the beach until the sky was a dark 6ruise a6ove her and the last of the
children had disappeared into their homes.

Which sentence from the passage contains figurative language?

A. “Winnie spent hours each day that summer
at the beach.”
c. “That was the August when Winnie’s world
began crumbling around her.”
B. “She was twelve, and soon she would turn
thirteen.”
D. “She’d listen to the ocean and feel the wet
sand under her toes as she stood at the
shoreline.”

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2. Figures of speech are different ways to use figurative language. A metaphor makes a comparison by
saying that one thing is another. A hyperbole is an exaggeration. Personification is another figure of
speech. When a writer personifies, he gives something nonhuman a human trait or ability.

Read the following passage.

At the enC/ of the debate tournament, Samantha was a tornado of emotion. Why hadn’t she done
more to prepare like Patricia suggested? She was mad at Patricia, and mad at Mr. Atkinson and,
more than anything e/se, she was mad at herself. In the cafeteria, strangers congratulated one another
and talked loudly about their matches. The girl with the short, red hair high-fived a tall boy
wearing a suit jacket, and they smiled at each other. Samantha found a table thot was empty and sat
down. Her shame insulted her continuously with a sharp voice. It had been the worst rebuttal in the
history of competitive debate. She was sure of that.

Which detail from the passage contains an example of personification?

A. “In the cafeteria, strangers congratulated
one another and talked loudly about their
matches.“
c. “It had been the worst rebuttal in the history
of competitive debate.”
B. “... Samantha was a tornado of emotion.”
D. “Her shame insulted her continuously with
a sharp voice."

a. Personification can make your writing more powerful, emotional and vivid. You can personify anything that
isn’t human: an object--like money or a mountain--an idea--like greed or peace--and even a living thing--
like a spider or a tree. Just be sure that thing is or does something a plant or animal can’t literally do.

Which revision to the sentence below uses personification to make the imagery more vivid?

The morning was humid and gray, but it did not rain.

A. The stubborn sky held tightly to her dark
clouds, and the morning passed without
rain.
C. The morning was as hot and humid as a
rainforest.
B. The weather was bad that morning.
D. The weather was so unbearable, all we
could do that morning was pray for rain.
4. When you find an example of personification, you should stop and consider some aspects of the
text. What does this figure of speech mean in this context? What does the author reveal by giving
that particular nonhuman object that particular human ability? What can you infer about the text or
the characters from the choice of words and details?

In the sentence below, what is the purpose of the phrase ”the stars winking at him"?

Read the following sentence.

Alvaro walked in a buzz of excitement, with the stars winking at him the whole way home.

A. This phrase means that there are actually B. This phrase shows that the stars
make eyes in the sky winking at Alvaro. Alvaro feel lucky and special.
C. This phrase shows that Alvaro sees things D. This phrase shows that Alvaro is very
afraid that aren’t real. of the dark.

5. Personification can contribute to many elements of a story, including its theme or mood. Mood is a
story’s overall feeling or atmosphere. In the song, the rapper gives two examples of how personification
can create a mood.

Read the passage below.

Edwin’s grandmother didn’t get angry when she saw the horrible mess in the kitchen. In fact, she
decided to take part in the fun. She put the peas on her spoon, bent the spoon back and flung them
toward Edwin before be even saw that she was there. They landed with a SPLAT on his glasses
and he looked up, surprised. “Gran?” he said. “What on Earth...?” In a matter of minutes, the rest of
the vegetables were dancing all around them like performance artists. The carrots somersaulted like
gymnasts, and the string beans moved in the wide arcs of leaping ballerinas.

What does the personification add to this passage?

A. The personification in this passage helps
create a mood that is humorous and playful.
loving.
C. The personification in this passage helps
helps create a mood that is anxious and scary.
B. The personification in this passage helps
create a mood that is romantic and
D. The personification in this passage
create a mood that is gloomy and sad.