PERSONIFICATION IN POETRY Personification in Poetry

Personification in poetry is the technique of describing an inanimate object with human-like traits and characteristics. It creates a bond between the reader and inhuman pieces of the poem, such as a table or automobile, by attributing relatable descriptions normally attributed to man. An example of personification found in poetry is, "The tree wept with sadness as the sun set in the evening." Crying is a trait associated with humans, so to say that a "tree wept with sadness" personifies it.

Personification 1. the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure. 2. the representation of a thing or abstraction in the form of a person, as in art. 3. the person or thing embodying a quality or the like; an embodiment or incarnation: He is the personification of tact. 4. an imaginary person or creature conceived or figured to represent a thing or abstraction. 5. the act of attributing human qualities to an animal, object, or abstraction; the act of personifying: The author's personification of the farm animals made for an enchanting children's book.

Tips on Personification in Poetry Personifying Abstractions Thoughts, concepts or emotions, such as envy or love, can be personified as characters in poetry. To personify an emotion or concept in your poetry, you can imagine what kinds of traits that abstraction would possess if it were a person and how you want the personified emotion to be perceived. For example, in the poem, Because I Could Not Stop For Death by Emily Dickinson, death drives the speaker in a carriage to the afterlife. Dickinson played against expectations, making death not scary, as it is usually presented, but pleasant. Personifying Animals Poems often contain anthropomorphized animals. The animal's natural attributes represent the kind of person the animal would be if it were human. Also, objects in poems can be personified as animals instead of people. For example, fog becomes a cat in Fog by Carl Sandburg and in The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot. In both cases, the poets chose a cat because the fog lingers and seems lethargic. Whether you stick with conventional assumptions or go against them, readers will feel they understand the personified object and themselves better. Personifying Nature Elements of nature can also be personified in poems, as making nature more human creates intensity and helps the reader connect. For example, instead of simply describing the force of a hurricanes winds in your poem, you could say that the hurricane is furious. This small change gives the hurricane more emotional impact and you can be certain the reader understands a feeling they have experienced firsthand even if theyve never been in a hurricane. Personifying Objects

Giving life to common inanimate objects gives them power and novelty. For example, instead of writing that he waited for the phone to ring, you could write that the phone silently stared at him, creating tension between the man and the phone. The phone has become a character with an attitude, which adds conflict to your poem and makes it more interesting. Using personification, you can make everyday items and ideas new and more accessible.

INK By: Guillermo Castillo Guillermo Castillo is (*was) a much-respected poet of his time. He has written hundreds of verses about the beauty of nature and the Filipino people and society. He has an unpublished collection of verses entitled Filipino, Unlimited (typescript, 1941).

Ink Bottled in glass prison Meaningless in itself Black and mute without a language Silent but strongly urged To speak. Ink Chance-impressed on white Inarticulate unintelligible chaotic Welcome on the bareness of white But still foreign excommunicate. But ink Pen-lifted pen-impressed On black white paper Will-ordered Interprets intensifies clarifies

Expresses Life. - Guillermo Castillo

INK By: Guillermo Castillo

THEME: USEFULNESS MESSAGE OF THE STORY: Dont judge a thing without trying It reminds us that a certain thing should not be useful without a human that manipulates it

They say the pen is mightier than the sword. This poem implies that saying. Sometimes we could write things which will last forever and would have a deeper and more meaningful effect. For me personally, being a book nerd, books move me more as compared to watching TV. That is why using a pen can put one in danger. Ink - such a simple word, with such a simple object behind it. We see ink everyday but fail to see its significance. Ink, used properly, can convey our deepest emotions, can speak truths, can speak lies, and can hold us bound. Ink, like the words we use, is useless on their own. But when meaning is impressed into the ink, it becomes a powerful tool. This poem reminds us of the way that the simplest of things, when used with the right knowledge and direction can become important.

Ink is a poem that deals with the power of words in particular. For many people, ink is something they just need to write their thoughts and words. It's nothing to give real importance too. However, he comes this poem saying how important and significant ink is. And rightfully so. Ink empowers its writers to fully articulate their messages and make an impact in a reader's life. Ink, though something so simple and unique, is essential as well. It enables people to bridge the gap from paper to person with the marks it leaves behind. On a personal note, ink to me represents how the simple things in life are actually the ones that are life changing and life defining. These are the catalysts that make us the person we are today. And ink does it. Though often overlooked, it is still of importance any which way you look at it. Ink can indeed be powerful. Ink is used to communicate something to other people through writing. The power of the ink is so strong that it can actually serve as a tool to destroy people. Let's just take for example how Rizal used his writing to destroy the image of the Spaniards. The only tools he had were pen and paper and through these, the revolution against the Spaniards started. Another example would be how writers today try to destroy the image of a number of public personalities in showbiz or politics. Just by writing an article about them could cause the downfall of this person's career. That's why I agree with the poem that the ink truly is powerful.