So I am studying for the Ela state exam and i am writing down some notes... but i am still not sure what does personification mean and what are the examples after searching online.

Someone please tell me what does it mean...

Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings. For example, when we say, “The sky weeps” we are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a human quality. Thus, we can say that the sky has been personified in the given sentence.

This is from an earlier post today. I've put all the instances of personification in bold.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.
5 The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun
The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.

So if they give me a sentence saying " Lightning danced across the sky", since lightning does not dance, that would be human quality which would make it personification right???

Yes, right.

Thanks

You're welcome.

Of course, I can help you understand the concept of personification! Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities or characteristics are attributed to non-human entities, such as objects, animals, or ideas. This literary device gives non-human things the ability to take on human-like actions, emotions, or qualities.

To find examples of personification, you can try the following steps:

1. Read literary works: Explore poems, novels, short stories, or plays, as personification is a common literary device used in these genres. Look for instances where inanimate objects, animals, or abstract concepts are described in a human-like manner.

2. Search online: You mentioned that you already searched online, but if you're still unsure, you can try searching for "examples of personification" or "personification in literature." This will provide you with various examples used by writers throughout history.

3. Analyze advertisements or song lyrics: Personification is also frequently used in advertising campaigns and song lyrics to make ideas more relatable, persuasive, or memorable. Look for instances where non-human objects or concepts are personified to convey a message or create a vivid image.

Here are a few popular examples of personification:
- "The wind whispered through the trees."
- "The sun smiled down on us."
- "The flowers danced in the meadow."

By studying these examples and exploring different literary works, you will gain a better understanding of how personification is used and be able to identify it more easily in your studies.