What is Personification? Poetic techniques - How to write better poetry with Hip Hop examples
Personification is a powerful poetic device. In the following video, I use examples from hip hop and pop culture.
Examples in this video include, Mos Def, Kanye West, Nas and others.
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Filmed & Edited by Zohab Zee Khan
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ABOUT
Zohab Khan is a performance poet, educator, motivational speaker, didgeridoo player and hip hop artist. Zohab has built a formidable career in spoken word poetry, culminating in taking out the title of the Australian Poetry Slam Champion in 2014 and co-founding The Pakistan Poetry Slam in 2015. As a 4th generation Australian of Pakistani heritage and having been raised in regional Australia, Zohab has channeled his distinct life experiences into stories with the intent to educate. He seamlessly integrates Urdu and Punjabi into his work as he confronts a range of social issues. Zohab’s high energy and powerful words have left countless inspired.
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Definition of Personification
Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human. Personification is a common form of metaphor in that human characteristics are attributed to nonhuman things. This allows writers to create life and motion within inanimate objects, animals, and even abstract ideas by assigning them recognizable human behaviors and emotions.
Personification is a literary device found often in children’s literature. This is an effective use of figurative language because personification relies on imagination for understanding. Of course, readers know at a logical level that nonhuman things cannot feel, behave, or think like humans. However, personifying nonhuman things can be an interesting, creative, and effective way for a writer to illustrate a concept or make a point.
For example, there is a series of children’s picture books by Drew Daywalt in which boxed crayons are personified. The first book, “The Day the Crayons Quit,” uses personification to allow the crayons to express their frustration at how they are (or are not) being used. This literary device is effective in creating an imaginary world for children in which crayons can communicate like humans. In addition, the author is able to initiate interesting concepts such as conflict resolution and the importance of art through the use of personification.
Difference Between Personification and Anthropomorphism
Personification is often confused with the literary term anthropomorphism due to fundamental similarities. However, there is a difference between these two literary devices. Anthropomorphism is when human characteristics or qualities are applied to animals or deities, not inanimate objects or abstract ideas. As a literary device, anthropomorphism allows an animal or deity to behave as a human. This is reflected in Greek dramas in which gods would appear and involve themselves in human actions and relationships.
In addition to gods, writers use anthropomorphism to create animals that display human traits or likenesses such as wearing clothes or speaking. There are several examples of this literary device in popular culture and literature. For example, Mickey Mouse is a character that illustrates anthropomorphism in that he wears clothes and talks like a human, though he is technically an animal. Other such examples are Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, and Thomas the Tank Engine.
Therefore, while anthropomorphism is limited to animals and deities, personification can be more widely applied as a literary device by including inanimate objects and abstract ideas. Personification allows writers to attribute human characteristics to nonhuman things without turning those things into human-like characters, as is done with anthropomorphism.
Common Examples of Personification
Here are some examples of personification that may be found in everyday expression:
My alarm yelled at me this morning.
I like onions, but they don’t like me.
The sign on the door insulted my intelligence.
My phone is not cooperating with me today.
That bus is driving too fast.
My computer works very hard.
Examples of Personification in Speech or Writing
Here are some examples of personification that may be found in everyday writing or conversation:
My heart danced when he walked in the room.
The hair on my arms stood after the performance.
Why is your dog pouting in the corner?
The wind is whispering outside.
That picture says a lot.
Her eyes are not smiling at us.
