What literary technique involves giving human traits to non-human entities?

The correct answer is personification, which is a literary technique that attributes human characteristics, emotions, and behaviors to non-human entities, such as animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. This technique enriches narratives by allowing readers to connect with these entities on a human level, enhancing empathy and understanding.

For instance, when we say "the wind whispered through the trees," we are using personification to depict the wind as if it possesses the human ability to whisper, thereby creating a vivid and relatable image.

While anthropomorphism often gets used interchangeably with personification, it specifically applies to giving animal characters human traits or behaviors, particularly in literature where these animals act like humans. Allegory, on the other hand, is a broader narrative technique that conveys deeper moral or philosophical meanings, often using characters and events as symbols. Hyperbole refers to exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally. Thus, personification is the most precise answer for depicting non-human entities with human traits.