Which of these is an example of personification? 1. the stars winked at me. 2. the alligator's teeth are white daggers. 3. the fish swam across the river as if it was dancing. 4.the blanket was as white as snow.

'The stars winked at me' is an example of personification. Personification means using human characteristics to describe an object, animal, or even a place. In that statement above, The stars winked at me, we give the stars the ability to wink which is a human quality.  

Personification is a type of figurative languages. Another type of figurative languages including simile, metaphor, hyperbole, assonance, paradox and etc. Figurative language uses a figure of speech to describe something beyond their literal meaning.

The alligator's teeth are white daggers' is a metaphor. In this sentence, the phrase 'white dagger' is to describe how sharp the alligator's teeth are. Metaphor is a figure speech to show how someone or something is like by comparing it to something else, unlike similes, a metaphor doesn't use the word 'as' or 'like'

'The fish swam across the river as if it was dancing' and 'The blanket was as white as snow' are examples of similes. This figurative language always uses 'as' or 'like to compare one thing to something else.

Figurative language

Use of figurative language

Personification

Keywords: personification, figurative language, a figure of speech

An example of personification is

The stars winked at me.

Following the rules of personification the stars just like humans are winking, which shows the granting of human attribute to an inanimate object.

Further Explanation:

Poetic devices, also known as literary devices are often used by writers to impart an extra effect to their writing. The use of these poetic devices helps in adding clarity to the writing and helps the reader to visualize the literary thought more aptly. They also make a literary piece more grasping in nature. The most commonly used or known poetic devices are metaphors, similes, imagery, symbolism, oxymoron, personification, etc.  

In the options mentioned in the question, Option 2 is a metaphor. A metaphor is used to compare two very different objects but has an attribute that is common. In this, the white teeth of an alligator is compared to daggers. This indicates that both the dagger and the white teeth are extremely sharp and hence, can be compared. However, the comparison is not very direct as it is in option 4. In this, the blanket is very directly compared to white snow. The comparison between the two brings to the mind an interesting connection. This makes the picture of the blanket more vivid in the mind of the reader and the listener. We can distinguish between a metaphor and a simile in that, simile uses words such as ‘like’ and ‘as’ more often. Option 3 states that the fish swarmed across the water in such a manner that it seemed like it was dancing. This is an example of imagery, where the movement of the fish is portrayed to be so smooth and joyous that it looked like it was dancing. The graphic representation of the scene helps in appealing to the senses of the reader. Option 1 is an example of personification. In this, the star is said to wink at a certain person. A personification as a literary device is used when a human attribute is granted to something that is not human. Sometimes these attributes are also granted to something that is non-living like emotions and thoughts. In this, the star winks at the person just another human would. It simply means the star was twinkling with its light getting dim and bright which looked like winking. Thus, option 1 is a personification.  

Learn more:

1. Which best summarizes the role of conversation expressed in society and solitude?

2. Which quotation correctly uses ellipsis to shorten Anthony’s words?

Answer Details:  

Grade: Senior School

Subject: English Literature

Chapter: Poetic Devices

Keywords: Poetic device, metaphor, simile, personification, imagery, comparison, visual, vivid, human, attribute.