Personification

Writing Trait/Strategy:

Word choice; personification; poetry tools

Mentor Text Suggestions:

• Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller
• Dirty Laundry Pile by Paul Janeczko (ed.)
• Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
• The Scarecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman
• The Goldfish Yawned by Elizabeth Sayles
• School Supplies: A Book of Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins
• The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
• My Secret Surprise by Jasper Tomkins
• Winter Barn by Pater Parnell
• Do Not Feed the Table by Dee Lillegard

Description:

Personification is a comparison in which something that is not human is described with human qualities. This tool is used especially by poets, but authors of other texts as well, to create mind pictures for the reader. Introduce this literary craft to students by pointing out examples in mentor texts such as those listed above.

Activity:

Have students go on a “personification walk.” Have them make a list of things they notice (trees, clouds, rocks, grass, wind, etc.) Ask them to choose one and make a list of ways their subject seems human or animal-like. Example: Trees = Giant hands reaching toward the sky. (Heard, 1999)

 

A 2nd grader personifies a water bottle: I’m a water bottle.  I sit on your desk all day.  No fun at all.  All you do is drink from me.  I’m bored and lonely at night.  You drink drink drink until…I’m in the recycling bin!

Tags: Mentor Texts, Poetry Writing, Six-Trait Writing, Voice Trait, Word Choice, Writing Minilessons

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