It is fun to read and hear examples of onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is the use of words that make sounds like the noise they represent. They make me smile. They get my attention.
Batman and Robin wouldn’t be the same without them: Pow! Bang!
The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe filled his poetry with sensory detail which was often frightening to read and hear but unmistakably frightening. Here’s an excerpt from
“The Bells.”
What a tale their terror tells
Of Despair!
How they clang, and clash, and roar!
What a horror they outpour
On the bosom of the palpitating air!
Yet the ear it fully knows,
By the twanging,
And the clanging,
How the danger ebbs and flows;
Yet the ear distinctly tells,
In the jangling,
And the wrangling.”
In my book, Flip Flap Floodle, I used onomatopoeia for the sound of the little duck’s name and his song on the flute. “The little duck played on his flute, Flip Flap Floodle, Floodle, Floodle.”How about this one I made up just now. “The snake slithered across the man’s chest and he pushed it into the lake. His heart beat throb throb throbbity throb throb.”
Resources:
2. https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/onomatopoeia-examples/
Please leave a comment with one of your favorite stories or poems that use onomatopoeia or make up your own example for us.
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I love ALL figurative language but can never remember how to spell ONOMATOPOEIA! (see, I had to copy and paste it in this comment). I like your use of the word “slithering” too!!
Dear Carol,
Thank you very much for writing. I had to look up the spelling of onomatopoeia, too. I am glad that you liked my use of slithering. I hope the right words you need come running through your mind and drop into your manuscript and glide across the page.
Never Give Up
Joan
Bang-zoom! Your post added ZING to my morning! Onomatopoeia is a writing strategy that I have neglected to use. (sigh). Enjoyed the read and comments.
Dear Joan Reid,
I am glad to see that you enjoyed my post. Perhaps you will add a few of your good sound words to your writing. Just hearing them pound away at your heart strings saying: “Use me,” will make you smile!!!
Never Give Up
Joan
Joan,
Oops is the one I probably use most on my phone. Auto-correct is the reason I usually need to use it. Ha! Ha!
Dear Linda,
Thank you for sharing that your phone causes you to use the sound word OOPS because of auto correct.
It is fun to use sound words to me.
Glad you are able to smile in the face of a crisis mode in text or email on the phone.
Do something fun for you!
Never Give Up
Joan
This is another great post, Joan. I need to add some to my WIP.
Dear Melanie,
Thank you for writing. It makes me smile to know that you are planning to add a few good sound words to your Work-in-progress.
Never Give Up
Joan