Anthropomorphism

(CC) Photo: James Donavon
Lady Liberty: the concept of liberty given human form.

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to non-humans. This takes several different forms. In children's literature, for example, plants and animals are often depicted walking upright, wearing clothes, or exhibiting other human physical characteristics in addition to human behaviors. In mythologies and fables, on the other hand, animals and plants are frequently given human-like mental capabilities and motivations without any evident modification to their physical attributes. Forces of nature, virtues, ideas, fate, luck, nations, continents and inanimate objects are also frequently conceptualized in human form or given human characteristics.