Personification Worksheets | Figurative Language Activities - Free Printable

Let's solve each question on the Personification Worksheet 4 step by step. The goal is to identify:

1. What is being personified? (the object or idea given human traits)
2. Which human trait or quality is given? (the human-like action, feeling, or characteristic)

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**1. The sky is that beautiful old parchment

In which the sun and the moon keep their diary.**

- What is being personified?
→ *The sky*
*(Note: "parchment" is a metaphor for the sky, but the sky itself is the subject being described as if it holds a diary.)*

- Which human trait or quality is given?
→ *The ability to keep a diary* (i.e., memory, record-keeping)
*(The sun and moon are said to “keep their diary,” which implies they have the human ability to write and remember — a human action.)*

✔ Answer:
- What is being personified? The sky
- Which human trait or quality is given? The ability to keep a diary (memory/record-keeping)

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**2. I will spend my life remembering you

as shells remember the lost sea.**

- What is being personified?
→ *Shells*
*(Shells are inanimate objects, but they are said to “remember.”)*

- Which human trait or quality is given?
→ *Memory / the ability to remember*
*(Remembering is a human mental function, so giving it to shells is personification.)*

✔ Answer:
- What is being personified? Shells
- Which human trait or quality is given? Memory / the ability to remember

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**3. The wind should breathe to me

The sweetness of the roses and the saltiness of the sea.**

- What is being personified?
→ *The wind*
*(Wind is given the human ability to “breathe.”)*

- Which human trait or quality is given?
→ *The ability to breathe*
*(Breathe is a physical human action; wind is not capable of breathing, so this gives it a human trait.)*

✔ Answer:
- What is being personified? The wind
- Which human trait or quality is given? The ability to breathe

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4. On the emerald hills of Carmel the spring and winter have met.

- What is being personified?
→ *Spring and winter*
*(These are seasons, not people, but they are said to “have met,” implying interaction like humans.)*

- Which human trait or quality is given?
→ *The ability to meet (social interaction)*
*(“Met” suggests two beings coming together, like people meeting — a social human action.)*

✔ Answer:
- What is being personified? Spring and winter
- Which human trait or quality is given? The ability to meet (interaction/social behavior)

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**5. A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;**

- What is being personified?
→ *The tree*
*(The tree is referred to with “her” and “hair,” suggesting human features.)*

- Which human trait or quality is given?
→ *Having hair and the ability to wear something*
*(“Hair” is a human feature, and “wear” implies clothing or adornment — both human characteristics.)*

✔ Answer:
- What is being personified? The tree
- Which human trait or quality is given? Having hair and the ability to wear something (adornment)

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

| Question | What is being personified? | Human trait or quality given? |
|--------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 1 | The sky | Ability to keep a diary (memory) |
| 2 | Shells | Memory / ability to remember |
| 3 | The wind | Ability to breathe |
| 4 | Spring and winter | Ability to meet (social interaction) |
| 5 | The tree | Having hair and wearing something |

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This worksheet helps students recognize how poets use personification to make nature and abstract ideas feel more alive and relatable by giving them human qualities.