What term attributes human characteristics to non-human things?

• A. metaphor
• B. literal
• C. personification
• D. simile

Answer: (C)

Giving human characteristics to non-human things is called personification. It’s a figure of speech that animates objects, animals, or ideas by describing them with human actions, feelings, or traits. For example, “The wind whispered through the trees” or “The clock marched on impatiently.” This technique helps create vivid imagery and emotional resonance. It differs from a simile, which uses like or as to compare and doesn’t necessarily attribute human traits. It also sits under the broader umbrella of metaphor, but personification specifically focuses on human qualities. Literal language, in contrast, describes things exactly as they are, without figurative attributes.