Using Personification Effectively in Your Poetry

Learn about personification and HOW and WHEN to use it in your own writing. A good beginner course, or a refresher with some special challenges for the more seasoned writers.

WHAT IS PERSONIFICATION?

Let's keep it simple. Personification is giving HUMAN qualities to INHUMAN or INANIMATE objects. These qualities can be human emotions, sensations, physical characteristics or actions--any attribute at all. Here's an example:

Awakening to the risen sun, the rested trees stretched their limbs heavenward.

In this example the trees are "doing" human things. They are awakening and stretching (actions); they feel rested (a sensation). Also, we can infer that the trees must have also been sleeping (an action). Yes, plants follow the path of the sun an turn toward it, but they do not actually STRETCH. Personifying the trees in this way provides not only a very nice visual of the trees' branches, but it connects the reader with the tree for he knows the exact feeling of stretching in the morning after a good night's rest.

Another example:

Silence crept with shadowed footsteps through my cornered mind.

*In this example, silence CREEPS (an action) and has shadowed footsteps (a physical attribute). We know that silence has no feet. But to give it the human ability to CREEP adds a foreboding, or an eeriness, to the absence of noise in the mind almost as if something is sneaking up on the reader, as well as the speaker in the poem.
*This one also has an added bonus--"cornered mind"!! The mind, in and of itself, does not constitute a person, and yet here it takes on the quality of being backed into a corner as a person might be. Wow! Personification at every bend. (Okay, bend/corner, bad pun, but I'm not teaching on punnery here, so lighten up, okay?)



WHY USE PERSONIFICATION?
Personification can assist with imagery and emotion, helps to extend some metaphors, and also can just provide an "unusual" perspective for a regular object. One of the strongest reasons for personifying an object is for making connection with the reader. When a tree or the sound of silence bears attributes that are familiar to the reader, an immediate connection sparks in her mind or upon her emotions.


Compare these two sets of sentences. See which ones affect you more on an emotional or intellectual level.

The parrot chided him each time he sneaked through the door.
Gathered in fortified colonies, the milk completely refused to be drank. (Ha, now that's clever, if I must say so myself. But feel free to chime in!)
The castle door yawned its open disapproval.

OR

The parrot repeated mean phrases each time came through the door.
The clabbered milk could not be drunk.
The old castle door creaked when opened.

The first set of sentences are not only more interesting to read, but have a hook to grab the reader's emotions and personal experiences.



HOW DO I USE PERSONIFICATION?

There are several things to consider:
How do you want the reader to feel about your inanimate object? What mood or tone are you trying to create in the poem as a whole? You should be careful to choose the appropriate emotions/sensations/actions/physical attributes for your object that would convey the feeling, mood and tone you want.

Be consistent with your personification. If you refer to the moon as a "she" in one line, give her feminine characteristics anytime you mention her. Or if, for example, you speak of a forest that "snatches hope of safety" in one line, make sure you continue to personify it throughout your piece with similar eerie qualities. It will be a disappointment to your readers if you do not follow through, and you may lose the connection you have made with them. Also, if you choose to personify different objects within your poem, be sure the objects and how you personify them go together thematically with your poem as a whole.

Be creative. Personifying inanimate objects is really one of the best ways to put an unusual spin on your words and upon your readers' way of looking at things. No one naturally considers a table to have feelings, or a rock to do anything except lie there, until you MAKE IT HAPPEN. Take your reader somewhere he has not been through personification. Make him consider things a new way. You have the power, if you'll just take time to be innovative!

Below you will find some simple exercises you can do to improve your skills with using personification.


EXERCISE 1:

Visit and comment upon EACH of the poems below. Look for examples of personification. Leave a nice comment on the poem that specifically points out at least THREE uses of personification. (It can be the same object personified in multiple phrases, or multiple objects personified). Also note WHY it is skillful personification. Leave any other nice words you deem appropriate and go on to the next poem.

*Sample Comment:
This is a beautiful poem. I love how you personified the sun as it PEEKED out excitedly from behind the clouds. It reminded me of a little kid playing peekaboo. I also thought the way the trees BENT DOWN to HIDE their FACES added a playfulness to the whole game. And it was really great how the wind SCOLDED them with it's chill--that reminded me of how my mother used to scold my sister and me for staying up talking or playing around at night when were were supposed to be sleeping. This was a great poem that I can really identify with. Lots of fun and wonderful imagery!
--Notice how there are THREE examples of personification and a REASON for why each one "worked" or affected the commenter? This will be give you practice at recognizing and understanding the purpose for skillful personification. If you can recognize good personification, then you will be better able to replicate it.

SAMPLE POEMS:
Shewolfnative: Dance Me Like Daisy http://allpoetry.com/poem/3441432
Everwind Rising: Stoic http://allpoetry.com/poem/3026622
ten thousand cicadas: Not Like This http://allpoetry.com/poem/3292604

Continue to look for personification as you read other poems on the site or elsewhere!!!


EXERCISE 2
Now try using personification in one of your own poems. Remember you may personify one object throughout The entire poem, or you may personify multiple objects as long as you are consistent with the theme and feel of your piece. PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE "How Do I Use Personification" SECTION ABOVE AS YOU WRITE..


I'd love to read and critique your work if you would like me too! Just send me the link with a note that you're practicing personification.

A FINAL NOTE:
The most superior poems of personification will make me wonder if I'm truly talking about an object or a person, or both at the same time. Does the author mean to speak of the moon or of a woman? Is this really talking about a little girl, or the butterfly? Is it the guy that has been injured, or the broken timbers?

Here's one of my poems that will show you exactly what I mean: "Cello" http://allpoetry.com/poem/3355054
(Sorry for the shameful promotion, it's just easier to use familiar stuff! LOL)

In this poem, every image and description can be taken as speaking of either a cello or a woman.
The reader gets to decide which one I really mean!

Have fun with using personification and try some things you haven't done before. Whatever level you are on, push yourself to go farther!!! Feel free to message me with any questions you may have.