Full Idea
Specifying objects as persons can comprehend experiences in terms of our motivations, characteristics and activities. Each personification picks out a different aspect (such as attacking, outwitting, giving birth to).
Gist of Idea
Personification sees object in human terms, usually selecting one aspect
Source
G Lakoff / M Johnson (Metaphors We Live By [1980], 07)
A Reaction
[compressed] This is helpful in pointing to a more detail understanding of personification. They give 14 examples of the kind of aspects that can be selected. (They also cite metonymy and synecdoche)
Book Reference
Lakoff,G/Johnson,M: 'Metaphors We Live By' [Chicago 2003], p.33