Which device assigns human characteristics to non-human things?

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

Answer: (D)

Personification is the device that assigns human characteristics to non-human things. It brings animals, objects, or ideas to life by giving them feelings, thoughts, or actions that humans would have, which helps create vivid imagery and emotional connection. For example, “the wind whispered through the trees” treats wind as if it could speak, a clearly human trait applied to something non-human. Metaphor is a broader figure of speech that makes a direct comparison without necessarily implying human traits, while irony and hyperbole serve different purposes—irony involves a contrast between appearance and reality, and hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration. So, this specific technique best fits the idea of endowing non-human things with human qualities.