What is Personification in Literature? (Definition)
Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities—emotions, behaviours, intentions—are attributed to non-human things such as animals, objects, natural forces, or abstract concepts. When a writer says 'the wind whispered through the trees,' the wind is personified as a being capable of whispering.
Personification makes the non-human world feel alive, emotional, and connected to the characters' experiences. It can create atmosphere, suggest that nature responds to human events, or make abstract ideas feel tangible and immediate.
Examples of Personification
Example 1: Personification in Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare personifies the moon as a jealous, sick figure grieving because Juliet (the sun) has surpassed her in beauty. By giving the moon human emotions, Shakespeare makes the entire cosmos a participant in Romeo's love story.
Example 2: Personification in Macbeth
Lady Macbeth personifies night as a figure she can summon and command, asking it to dress itself in the darkest smoke. The personification reveals her desire to make darkness her ally—to use it to conceal the murder she is planning.
Example 3: Personification in Frankenstein
Shelley personifies the rain as 'dismal'—projecting Victor's emotional state onto the weather. The pathetic fallacy (nature reflecting human emotion) intensifies the atmosphere of dread surrounding the creature's creation.