Saturday, April 16, 2011

Personification


Good writing uses the technique of personification.  Personification is when  inanimate objects or abstractions are endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form.

To write good personification, the tip is to focus on matching the human traits or actions to that of an inanimate object.  For example, in the video clip,  the human traits or human characteristics  (eg loneliness, anger, grouchiness, mischief) are clearly displayed by the wind in human form.  The wind has taken a human persona to engage in human actions such as messing up a person's hair and slamming the window.

Examples:
1) The lonely wind played with the flowers in the garden.
2) The mischievous wind ruffled her neatly-styled hair.
3) The angry wind slammed the windows hard.

Another good tip is to think of a good riddle to describe inanimate objects starting with 'I am' and making the object behave like a human being.
Example:

I am noisy when I work.
I love to gobble up dust and move on wheels

Answer: Vacuum Cleaner
Personification Example:  The noisy vacuum cleaner devours every fleeing dust specks along the way.

Think of other objects that you can personify.

Objects of nature: Flowers, Roots, Lake, Mountain
Weather elements: Cloud, Thunder, Lightning, Rain, Sun
Objects at home: Sofa, Table, Carpet, Lights, Washing Machine
Concepts: Death, Time, Mother Nature, Kindness.

Have fun. :)
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6 comments:

  1. His childApril 18, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    P6

    The lightning grew furious by the minute.
    The angry earthquake pushed down the buildings.
    The washing machine shook and roared angrily.
    The mischievous wind blew my laundry away.
    The angry fire devoured every combustible material.
    The miserable clouds cried non-stop.
    The mean tsunami covered the town with seawater.
    The watch crawled slowly.
    The naughty sun was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds in the early morning.
    The mean thunder saw red and threw down some lightning.
    Death stood by the doorway, biding its time, coaxing my friend to join him.
    The alarm clock screamed into my ears.
    The hungry tsunami swallowed everyone up.
    The cool waters tickled my toes.
    The snowy mountain lost its grip and the avalanche tumbled down.

    ReplyDelete
  2. His childApril 19, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    P4
    The angry volcano threw up the burning lava.
    The computer refused to work.
    The merciless sun drenched my shirt.
    The mirror laughed at my ugliness.
    The tornado flipped the houses over.
    The apple trees refused to bear fruits.
    The cool breeze greeted me when I reached the Siloso beach.
    The rainwater cleaned the dusty roofs.
    The tsunami was mad with rage and devoured the entire village.
    The radio sang beautifully.
    The piano refused to play the right tune.
    The car coughed out some dark smoke.

    ReplyDelete
  3. His childApril 20, 2011 at 5:28 AM

    Lower Sec

    The faulty light was winking at me.
    The playful wind blew up the girl's skirt.
    The burger was beckoning me to eat it.
    The copier spat out paper one after another.
    The red marks on my exam paper was mocking me.
    The train shrieked to a halt.
    The large mole on his right cheek was crying out for attention.
    The rhythm of the waves soothed me down.

    ReplyDelete
  4. His childApril 21, 2011 at 3:12 AM

    P5
    The trees were losing their crowns.
    The roots gulped down the rainwater.
    The tornado grabbed everything in its way.
    The volcano saw red and blew up.
    The stubborn car refused to move.
    The wind refused to help us fly the kite.
    The Oak trees stood as sentries at the park entrance.
    The autumn trees were dressed to the nines.
    The seashell sang a melodious tune when I placed it beside my ear.
    The garbage bin gave a smelly stench, tormenting the still air.
    The rain cried non-stop.
    The branches danced in the wind.

    ReplyDelete
  5. His childApril 30, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    Upper Sec
    Statues stared hard at her.
    The skyscrapers mocked at the Lilliputian passers-by.
    The thunder roared, announching the arrival of the violent storm.
    Fear seized him.
    The river ran down the hill.
    The devil whispeed a thought into his ears.
    The loudspeakers screamed into my ears.
    The exam questions stared at me as if I were a stranger.
    The withered trees begged for water.
    A gust of cool air welcomed me into the shopping mall.
    The fire ate up everything in its path.
    The trees stood as guards at the entrance of the park.
    His glasses kept sliding kept his nose.
    The sofa groaned at his weight.
    His incessant cough refused to stop.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Learning WorkshopJuly 8, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Others...

    The wind sang a lovely song.
    The wind wailed hauntingly.
    River ran down the hill.
    Summer came and bade farewell to spring.
    Rust ate into the rickety car.
    Fear seized me and refused to leave.
    The overworked computer broke down finally

    ReplyDelete

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"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

Henry David Thoreau