English Literature GCSE
Personification
What Personification means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for Eduqas, OCR, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Personification
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
Giving human qualities to non-human things or abstract concepts.
Giving human characteristics to non-human things.
A figure of speech in which non-human entities are given human characteristics. Shakespeare personifies Death ('Death brag') and the sun ('the eye of heaven').
The attribution of human qualities or abilities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Death is personified as a proud, arrogant being who can be argued with.
A technique where non-human things are given human qualities. In 'Nettles', the nettles are personified as a hostile army.
Giving human qualities, emotions, or actions to inanimate objects or abstract concepts.
Topics that use Personification
- As Imperceptibly as Grief (Eduqas GCSE)
- Cozy Apologia (Eduqas GCSE)
- Excerpt from The Prelude (Eduqas GCSE)
- The Hill Fort (Eduqas GCSE)
- To Autumn (Eduqas GCSE)
- Conflict Anthology (OCR GCSE)
- Death Be Not Proud (OCR GCSE)
- Nettles (OCR GCSE)
- Sonnet 18 (OCR GCSE)
- Poetry Anthology: Time and Place (15 poems – Romantic, Literary Heritage, Contemporary) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Time and Place Poetry Anthology (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
Using Personification in the exam
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