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Teaching figurative language is one of my favorite steps into the exciting world of literature. Figurative language transports language from what is written on a page to creating an emotional, visual, and highly impactful experience for readers. It is always fun to see students’ lightbulb moments when they notice figurative language at play in what they’re reading. Finding personification in songs is easy when you know how. This post will help give you the tools to identify personification every time correctly.
There are many different kinds of figurative language, including metaphors, similes, onomatopoeias, irony, and more. We are specifically going to discuss personification.
Personification’s basic definition is giving non-human objects a human emotion. Some examples of this include:
You get the idea! The best part about personification is that it is everywhere! That’s because we, as humans, like to give things human emotions. When we describe something that we can understand, then our readers are more likely to understand it.
Plus, when you use personification, you add interest and value to your descriptions, creating more imagery for your reader.
Since figurative language provides interest in the written word, it is no surprise that devices such as personification are commonly found in most songs. Artists like to use personification to help describe feelings, events, and moments in their lives.
We have compiled a list of some of the best songs to help children understand personification in music.
Elton John
“That we’ve got this farAnd can you feel the love tonight?How it’s laid to rest?It’s enough to make kings and vagabondsBelieve the very best”
In this iconic Disney song, we can see streaks of personification throughout the chorus. Since we cannot feel love or lay it to rest, we can easily identify that personification is being used to illustrate the song’s point.
Katy Perry
“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,Drifting through the windWanting to start again?Do you ever feel, feel so paper thinLike a house of cards,One blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?6 feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thingDo you know that there’s still a chance for you?‘Cause there’s a spark in you
You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shineJust own the night like the 4th of July
‘Cause baby you’re a fireworkCome on, show ’em what you’re worthMake ’em go “Oh, oh, oh”As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you’re a fireworkCome on, let your colors burstMake ’em go “Oh, oh, oh”You’re gonna leave ’em falling down-own-own”
Pharrell Williams
“It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to saySunshine she’s here, you can take a breakI’m a hot air balloon that could go to spaceWith the air, like I don’t care baby by the way
Huh, because I’m happyClap along if you feel like a room without a roof“
I won’t lie to you when I tell you that my toddlers and I listen to this song at least once a day. It’s hard not to dance and smile when listening to a song all about being happy. The personification pops up twice at the beginning of the song. First, when Pharrell gives the sun the individuality to come and relieve people. Secondly, by describing somebody like a room without a roof.
As you can see, finding personification in songs is easy once you know how to!
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Aladin
“Unbelievable sightsIndescribable feelingSoaring, tumbling, freewheelingThrough an endless diamond sky”
Moana
“See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls meAnd no one knows, how far it goesIf the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind meOne day I’ll know, if I go there’s just no telling how far I’ll go”
Frozen
“Snow glows white on the mountain tonightNot a footprint to be seenA kingdom of isolationAnd it looks like I’m the queen
The wind is howling like this swirling storm insideCouldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I’ve triedDon’t let them in, don’t let them seeBe the good girl you always have to beConceal, don’t feel, don’t let them knowWell, now they know
Let it go, let it goCan’t hold it back anymoreLet it go, let it goTurn away and slam the doorI don’t care what they’re going to sayLet the storm rage onThe cold never bothered me anyway”
Lego Movie
“I feel more awesome than an awesome possumDip my body in chocolate frostin’Three years later wash off the frostin’Smellin’ like a blossom, everything is awesomeStepped in mud, got new brown shoes”
Trolls
“And I see your true colorsShining throughI see your true colorsAnd that’s why I love you”
Taylor Swift
“But one of these things is not like the othersLike a rainbow with all of the colorsBaby doll, when it comes to a loverI promise that you’ll never find another like
Me-e-e, ooh-ooh-ooh-oohI’m the only one of meBaby, that’s the fun of meEeh-eeh-eeh, ooh-ooh-ooh-oohYou’re the only one of youBaby, that’s the fun of youAnd I promise that nobody’s gonna love you like me-e-e
I know I tend to make it about meI know you never get just what you seeBut I will never bore you, baby(And there’s a lot of lame guys out there)And when we had that fight out in the rainYou ran after me and called my nameI never wanna see you walk away(And there’s a lot of lame guys out there)
‘Cause one of these things is not like the othersLivin’ in winter, I am your summerBaby doll, when it comes to a loverI promise that you’ll never find another like”
Sara Bareilles
“You can be amazingYou can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drugYou can be the outcastOr be the backlash of somebody’s lack of loveOr you can start speaking upNothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words doAnd they settle ‘neath your skinKept on the inside and no sunlightSometimes a shadow winsBut I wonder what would happen if you
Say what you wanna sayAnd let the words fall outHonestly I wanna see you be brave”
Personification in songs is easy to identify once you understand that all you’re looking for is human emotions. Understanding how figurative language is used in our favorite songs can make listening more educational and enjoyable.
It’s nearly guaranteed that your child’s favorite songs have examples of personification in them, so challenge them to piece through the lyrics to identify it themselves.
If your child is struggling with concepts such as personification and figurative language, let ArgoPrep help! ArgoPre has an ELA workbook for every age from kindergarten to eighth grade. These workbooks feature relevant reading, examples, and problems to reinforce topics that they are learning in school (including personification!).
In just 30 minutes per day, your child can start seeing improvements in just 30 days, with the help of ArgoPrep. Additionally, with each ArgoPrep workbook purchase, you gain access to our online library filled with video explanations, additional practice, and more.
Now that you’re well on your way to identifying personification in songs let’s put your knowledge to the test! Let us know what song you choose to analyze!
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