What literary device involves attributing human characteristics to non-human entities?

The correct answer is personification, as this literary device specifically involves giving human traits, emotions, or behaviors to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. Personification allows readers to connect with non-human elements by making them relatable through familiar human characteristics. For example, saying "the wind whispered through the trees" illustrates personification because it attributes the human action of whispering to an element of nature, creating a vivid image and emotional impact.

In contrast, a metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things without using "like" or "as," while a simile does make such a comparison using those words. Hyperbole, on the other hand, is an exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. While each of these devices enriches writing, only personification deals specifically with endowing non-human entities with human-like qualities.