Basic Personification Examples

Basic personification examples can be as straightforward as "a gate whining" or "the wind screaming." Both are simple and both get the idea across beautifully.

Personification examples show inanimate objects taking on the same characteristics and traits of a human. In other words, through the use of personification, a plant can suddenly sneeze or the wind can howl or yell. Any type of emotion, physical gesture, thought or action that a human being would make can be applied to any non-human or inanimate object in the form of personification words. Personification examples are seen in a variety of manuscripts and poems, including high-end literature such as in the writings of Shakespeare and Hemingway.

Basic Personification Examples

• The flowers begged for water.
• The wind screamed as it raced around the house.
• The house was lazy and unkempt.
• The bit chewed into the horse's mouth.
• Lightning danced across the sky.
• Trees bowed to the ground.
• The carved pumpkin smiled at me.
• The vines wove their fingers together to form a braid.
• The wind whispered softly in the night.
• The sun played hide and seek with the clouds.
• The stars winked at me.
• The camera loved her.
• The radio sprang to life at the touch of a button.
• The bed groaned.
• The headlights winked.

Personification Poetry
Personification poetry become popular in the 18^th century and continues to be popular today. Creating inanimate objects that are able to think, feel and act the same way a human does can be very helpful in getting the poem's message across in a more sensual manner. For instance, you might say the water sighed in contentment, the willow tree wept with joy or the trained licked up the miles. By using this type of personification, the reader visualizes the action or emotion more fully. Famous authors who used this form of personification include Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost.

Examples of Personification Poetry

• "The Train," by Emily Dickinson
• "April Rain Song," by Langston Hughes
• "The Wind," by James Stephens
• "Trees," by Joyce Kilmer