What is the term for a figure of speech in which animals or objects are given human attributes?

The term for a figure of speech in which animals or objects are given human attributes is personification. This literary device allows writers to create vivid imagery and emotional connections by attributing human qualities, feelings, or actions to non-human entities. For instance, in the phrase "the wind whispered through the trees," the wind is personified as it is described as having the ability to whisper, a distinctly human action. This technique enhances the reader's engagement with the text and can deepen the thematic elements by fostering empathy or highlighting certain characteristics of the subject.

The other choices, while they are also important literary devices, do not fit the definition of personification. Metaphor involves a direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as," simile makes a comparison using "like" or "as," and an oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. Each of these has its own distinct role in literature but doesn’t specifically focus on attributing human traits to animals or objects.