Which device gives human qualities to nonhuman things?

• A. Simile
• B. Metaphor
• C. Personification
• D. Hyperbole

Answer: (C)

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things is personification. This figure of speech treats objects, animals, or ideas as if they can think, feel, or act like a person, which is exactly what the prompt is asking you to identify. For example, saying “the wind whispered through the trees” or “the sun smiled down on us” attributes human-like behavior to nonhuman things, making them seem alive in a human way. That direct attribution of human traits is what defines personification.

By comparison, a simile makes a comparison using like or as (for instance, “bright as the sun”); it highlights a likeness but doesn’t necessarily endow the nonhuman thing with human traits. A metaphor makes a direct identification by saying one thing is another, which can be a strong image but isn’t specifically about giving human attributes. Hyperbole exaggerates for effect and isn’t about animating nonhuman things with human characteristics.