Personification

A figure of speech that gives human qualities to objects, animals, or ideas.

Example From Text

A yawning hole was all that was to be seen. The bottom had dropped out of the trail.

Explanation

Can a hole really yawn? The author gives the hole a human quality when he writes "a yawning hole." The author uses personification to describe the size of the hole that Hal, Mercedes, Charles and the dogs fall through when they do not listen to John Thornton's warning.