Comparison workshop

PersonificationversusApostropheWhat's the Difference?

Both may involve nonhuman subjects, but apostrophe concerns direct address while personification concerns attributed human qualities.

Read the pair

How They Differ

First idea

Personification

Gives a nonhuman subject human qualities or actions.

versus

Second idea

Apostrophe

Addresses an absent or nonhuman addressee directly.

See the signal

Examples

Personification

Time stalked the empty hall.

Apostrophe

O time, loosen your grip.