Anthropomorphism is straight-forward. I can anthropomorphize any inanimate object, entity or animal — for example, a tiger — by giving it simple, and tangible human characteristics — for example, the ability to talk, make jokes, make sandwiches. In the case of anthropomorphism, I am giving that tiger direct human characteristics to serve no further purpose other than just to have that tiger possess direct human characteristics. Think of Hobbes in Calvin and Hobbes: a walking, talking tiger who likes tuna sandwiches, acts cute, and likes to sneak up and jump on adorable little boys. Anthropomorphism is direct and produces the effect of making non-human entities feel more familiar, more easy to relate to.

Personification is more abstract, not only in its purpose and effect, but also for what types of subjects are given human attributes. Unlike anthropomorphism, personification is used to represent larger concepts. The object or entity is given human characteristics so to serve as an embodiment of a human idea. If anthropomorphism is to be taken literally, personification is to be taken figuratively; attribution of human characteristics to an inanimate entity becomes not the end in itself, but a means to an end — which, in personification’s case, is to express or represent a larger metaphor, or something vague like a metaphor. An example: I describe the moon as if it were a woman, lovely, and mysterious. Unlike anthropomorphism, personification has the effect of placing non-human entities into unfamiliar territory, hopefully allowing people to see things from different perspective, a new light.

I hope that I have cleared up any confusion you might have had about “wtf”"a limy” was.