Which literary device is used to give an inanimate object or abstract idea human characteristics?

The literary device that attributes human characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract ideas is called personification. This technique allows writers to create vivid imagery and evoke emotions by presenting non-human elements as if they possess human traits, qualities, or emotions. For example, saying "the wind whispered through the trees" gives the wind a human action (whispering), thereby enhancing the reader's understanding and emotional connection to the scene.

Other options represent different literary techniques: metaphor involves comparing two unlike things directly, alliteration refers to the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words, and hyperbole consists of exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally. These devices serve their unique purposes but do not convey the same human-like attributes to non-human entities that personification does.