Personification

&

Alliteration

Personification

Personification is when an author gives an idea, object, or animal qualities or traits of a person.

Examples

smiling moon CD player sang a tune car ran Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie My computer hates me. The camera loves me. Opportunity knocked on the door. The sun greeted me this morning. Snow had wrapped a white blanket over the city. Time never waits for anyone. Trees were dancing with the wind. The TV sprang to life.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables. When writers want to emphasize certain words, they may use alliteration.

Examples

down in the dumps

do or die

right as rain

sink or swim

pay the price

Coca-Cola

back to the basics

green as grass

live the life

Directions

For each of the following slides decide whether each sentence contains a simile, a metaphor, alliteration, or personification.

If simile or metaphor, what is being compared?

If personification what object is being personified?

The other bodies in the room were little more than bags of flesh and bones, dumped across broken chairs and couches.

The other bodies in the room were little more than bags of flesh and bones, dumped across broken chairs and couches.

metaphor

Camp Green Lake once danced in the heart of Texas.

Camp Green Lake once danced in the heart of Texas.

personification

Trout's feet smelled like dead fish.

Trout's feet smelled like dead fish.

simile

The dark and dreary days were depressing.

The dark and dreary days were depressing.

alliteration

Elya fought his way to America after forgetting to fulfill a promise.

Elya fought his way to America after forgetting to fulfill a promise.

alliteration

Mr. Yelnats thought old smelly sneakers were his ticket to success.

Mr. Yelnats thought old smelly sneakers were his ticket to success.

metaphor

The rain stopped, and the lake said good bye.

The rain stopped, and the lake said good bye.

personification

The trees beckoned the campers to its shade.

The trees beckoned the campers to its shade.

personification

Clyde Livingston's shoes were as smelly as blue cheese.

Clyde Livingston's shoes were as smelly as blue cheese.

simile

Katherine kept cold memories in her heart.

Katherine kept cold memories in her heart.

alliteration

The hundred year curse was dynamite to Stanley's family.

The hundred year curse was dynamite to Stanley's family.

metaphor

Stanley seldom seemed satisfied.

Stanley seldom seemed satisfied.

alliteration

The wind sang its sad tune.

The wind sang its sad tune.

personification

Derrick Dunne did dirty deeds.

Derrick Dunne did dirty deeds.

alliteration

Magnet claimed, "My fingers are like little magnets."

Magnet claimed, "My fingers are like little magnets.“

simile

Sam ran like the devil with Charles Walker chasing after him.

Sam ran like the devil with Charles Walker chasing after him.

simile

The cameras were windows for the Warden to see into the boys' lives.

The cameras were windows for the Warden to see into the boys' lives.

metaphor

The nail polish with rattlesnake venom was as lethal as nuclear waste.

The nail polish with rattlesnake venom was as lethal as nuclear waste.

simile

The onions were miracle drugs.

The onions were miracle drugs.

metaphor

The camp sang when Stanley and Zero were set free.

The camp sang when Stanley and Zero were set free.

personification

Practice

Go to page 37 in your student packet for Holes.

When you finish return here for additional practice.

Listen to “I am a Rock” by Paul Simon.

Highlight personification in blue, metaphors

in red, and alliterations in green. A winter's day-

in a deep and dark December

I am alone-

Gazing from my window to the streets below

On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.

I am a rock, I am an island.

I've built walls,

A fortress deep and mighty

That none may penetrate

I have no need of friendship

friendship causes pain

It's laughter and loving I disdain I am a rock, I am an island.

Don't talk of love but I've heard the word before It's sleeping in my memory I won't disturb the slumber of the feelings that have died If I never loved I never would have cried. I am a rock, I am an island.

I have my books and my poetry to protect me I am shielded in my armor Hiding in my room, safe within my womb, I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.

personification blue, metaphors red, and

alliterations green

A winter's day-

in a deep and dark December

I am alone-

Gazing from my window to the streets below

On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.

I am a rock, I am an island.

I've built walls,

A fortress deep and mighty

That none may penetrate

I have no need of friendship

friendship causes pain

It's laughter and loving I disdain I am a rock, I am an island.

Don't talk of love but I've heard the word before It's sleeping in my memory I won't disturb the slumber of the feelings that have died If I never loved I never would have cried. I am a rock, I am an island.

I have my books and my poetry to protect me I am shielded in my armor Hiding in my room, safe within my womb, I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.

Listen to Paul Simon’s “At the Zoo” Which

figurative language technique does he use?

Someone told me Its all happening at the zoo. I do believe it, I do believe its true. It’s a light and tumble journey From the east side to the park; Just a fine and fancy ramble To the zoo. But you can take the crosstown bus If it’s raining or it’s cold, And the animals will love it If you do.

Somethin’ tells me Its all happening at the zoo. The monkeys stand for honesty, Giraffes are insincere, And the elephants are kindly but They’re dumb. Orangutans are skeptical Of changes in their cages, And the zookeeper is very fond of rum. Zebras are reactionaries, Antelopes are missionaries, Pigeons plot in secrecy, And hamsters turn on frequently. What a gas! you gotta come and see At the zoo.