Which term refers to giving human qualities to animals or inanimate objects?

Which term refers to giving human qualities to animals or inanimate objects?

• A. Symbolism
• B. Personification
• C. Alliteration
• D. Hyperbole

Answer: (B)

Giving human qualities to animals or inanimate objects is a figure of speech called personification. It means attributing actions, feelings, or intentions that people would have to things that aren’t human. For example, “The wind whispered through the trees” makes the wind seem like a person whispering. That’s what sets it apart from symbolism, where something (like a dove) stands for a bigger idea (peace) rather than acting with human traits. It’s also different from alliteration, which is the repetition of consonant sounds at the starts of nearby words, and from hyperbole, which is an intentional exaggeration for emphasis.

Giving human qualities to animals or inanimate objects is a figure of speech called personification. It means attributing actions, feelings, or intentions that people would have to things that aren’t human. For example, “The wind whispered through the trees” makes the wind seem like a person whispering. That’s what sets it apart from symbolism, where something (like a dove) stands for a bigger idea (peace) rather than acting with human traits. It’s also different from alliteration, which is the repetition of consonant sounds at the starts of nearby words, and from hyperbole, which is an intentional exaggeration for emphasis.