Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

What does personification involve?

1. Using exaggeration for effect

2. Human characteristics to nonhuman things

3. Comparison using like or as

4. A physical object represents something else

The correct answer is: Human characteristics to nonhuman things

Personification involves attributing human characteristics or qualities to nonhuman entities or objects. This literary device allows writers to create vivid imagery and relatable emotions by making inanimate objects or abstract concepts seem alive. For instance, saying "the wind whispered through the trees" gives the wind a human-like ability to whisper, enhancing the reader's experience and connection to the scene. Understanding personification helps in recognizing how authors can engage readers' imaginations by transforming the ordinary into something more relatable and dynamic.