PERSONIFICATION

AND
HYPERBOLE
(FIGURES OF SPEECH USED
IN POEMS)
 _________________ – an imaginary
person that represents a thing or
idea.
Example:
 ____________________ - language that
describes something as better or worse
than it really is.
Example:
 THE SEA
-NATIVIDAD MARQUEZ
Why does the sea laugh, Mother?
As it glints beneath the sun?
It is thinking of the joys, my child,
That it wishes everyone.

Why does the sea sob so, mother?

As it breaks on the rocky shore?
It recalls the sorrows in the world
And weeps forever more.
 Why is the sea peaceful, Mother?
As if it were fast asleep?
It would give our tired hearts dearest child
The comfort of the deep.

1. What is the poem about?

2. Who are talking in the poem?

3. What questions does the child ask from his mother?

4. What feeling or mood is aroused in you by the poem?

1. Why does the sea laugh, Mother?
2. Why does the sea sob, Mother?
3. And weeps forever more.

•What characteristic is given to the sea?

•What figure of speech is used in the first and second lines?

•What about the third line?

•What is Personification?
 •What is Hyperbole?

•When is Personification used?

•When is Hyperbole used?

•What does each line mean?

Analyze the poem Kitchen Scandal.

Identify the lines that use personification or hyperbole and explain
what each mean.
 DINNERTIME CHORUS
-SHARON HENDRICKS
The teapot sang as the water boiled
The ice cubes cackled in their glass
The teacups chattered to one another.
While the chairs were passing gas
The gravy gurgled merrily
As the oil danced in a pan.
Oh my dinnertime chorus

What a lovely, lovely clan!

When do you use personification as figure of speech?
When do you use hyperbole as figure of speech?
How can figure of speech help in reading or writing poems or literary
texts?

What is Personification?

What is Hyperbole?

When is Personification used?

When is Hyperbole used?

Describe the following ideas using personification.
Describe the following ideas using hyperbole.
Explain what these mean.
Example:
Pencil – flying across the page

Waves –
Stomach –
Moon –
The chair –
Computer –
The poem Kitchen Scandal uses personification and
hyperbole.

Form small groups.

Let one of the members of the group read it aloud
while the rest listen.
Then identify the lines that use
personification/hyperbole and agree on the meaning
of each line.
Be ready to share it in class.