The Importance of Understanding Personification in English.
After more than twenty years of teaching English, running a language institute, and training teachers, I have noticed something very curious, students can memorize hundreds of grammar rules, pass exams, and still struggle to feel the language.
And that is exactly where personification steps in.
Personification is not just a “literary device” hidden in poetry books. It is a living, breathing tool that helps learners connect emotionally, visualize meaning, and understand English more deeply and naturally. In my experience, once students truly understand personification, their reading, writing, speaking, and even listening skills improve dramatically.
Let me explain why.
What Is Personification? (In Real Teacher Terms)
In simple terms:
Personification is giving human qualities to non-human things.
We make objects, ideas, nature, or abstract concepts act, think, or feel like people.
Examples:
The wind whispered through the trees.
Fear grabbed my stomach.
The wind doesn’t whisper. Time doesn’t refuse. Fear doesn’t have hands. Cities don’t sleep.
But our brains understand them immediately because we think in human terms.
Why Personification Is So Important in English
1. English Is an Image-Based Language
One thing I teach my trainee teachers very early on is this:
English communicates through images, not just rules.
Personification creates instant mental pictures. When students hear:
They don’t translate word by word. They see a warm, pleasant day.
This is essential for:
2. Personification Helps Students Move Beyond Translation
In many EFL classrooms, students get stuck translating:
Sun = sol
Smile = sonreÃr
And they think:
“But the sun cannot smile!”
Exactly.
That moment of confusion is actually the moment of language growth.
When students accept that English sometimes speaks emotionally instead of literally, they begin to think in English, not translate into English.
3. Personification Is Everywhere, Not Just in Literature
One of the biggest myths is that personification is only for poems or novels. In reality, we use it every day.
Everyday English Examples:
If students don’t understand personification, they misunderstand meaning or think English speakers are being illogical.
How Personification Actually Works (Step by Step)
After teaching this for years, I break it down into three simple steps.
Step 1: Identify the Non-Human Subject
Ask:
Is this a person?
Examples:
Time
Fear
Cities
Step 2: Identify the Human Action or Emotion
Ask:
Can only humans normally do this?
Examples:
Whisper
Step 3: Understand the Intended Meaning
Ask:
What feeling or image is the speaker trying to create?
Example:
Meaning: I feel pressured or rushed.
This is where real understanding happens.
Powerful Classroom Examples I Use
Example 1: Time
Time flies when you’re having fun.
Time dragged on during the exam.
Students quickly learn:
Time = movement
Fast = enjoyable
Slow = boring or stressful
Example 2: Emotions
These sentences teach:
All at once.
Example 3: Nature
The storm screamed through the night.
The mountains watched silently.
Nature becomes alive, which makes descriptive writing stronger and more memorable.
How Personification Improves All Four Skills
Reading
Students understand metaphors and imagery instead of getting stuck on “impossible” meanings.
Listening
They recognize emotional language in movies, songs, and conversations.
Speaking
They sound more natural and expressive:
Instead of: “I am very tired.”
They say: “My body is screaming for sleep.”
Writing
Their texts become vivid and engaging rather than mechanical.
Common Mistakes Students Make (And How I Fix Them)
Mistake 1: Taking Personification Literally
Students ask:
“But can fear really grab?”
I respond:
“No, but can fear feel real?”
This shifts focus from literal truth to emotional truth.
Mistake 2: Overusing It
Beginners sometimes write:
The table smiled, the chair cried, the door felt sad.
I teach balance:
Personification must serve meaning, not decoration.
Mistake 3: Using It Without Context
A sentence like:
Needs context, or it sounds confusing.
I teach students:
Personification works best when the reader understands why.
A Simple Activity I Use in Teacher Training
Write 5 objects on the board:
Time
Fear
Ask students to:
Give each one a human action
Explain the meaning
Example:
Meaning: It failed at an important moment.
This activity always creates laughter, and deep understanding.
Final Thoughts from 20 Years in the Classroom
Personification is not an advanced “extra.”
It is a core bridge between mechanical English and meaningful English.
When students understand personification:
They read faster
They listen with confidence
They speak with emotion
They write with personality
After two decades of watching students grow, struggle, and succeed, I can confidently say this:
If your students understand personification, they are no longer just learning English, they are experiencing it.
And that is when real language mastery begins.
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