2017
7
Alliteration and Onomatopoeia
Alliteration and onomatopoeia are poetic devices. Both are methods of using words and sounds
for effect in a poem.
Alliteration is the repetition of a beginning sound for effect. These may be vowel or consonant
sounds. The alliterative sounds have been underlined in the following examples:
The alligator ate apples and avocados.
Walkin’ in a winter wonderland.
Underline the alliteration in these sentences:
1.
The warm wind wafted across the window.
2.
I accidentally ate an awful apple.
3.
Slipping and sliding, I stumbled in the snow and slush.
Finish these sentences with alliterations of your own:
1.
Swiftly swimming _________________________________.
2.
The tired traveler __________________________________.
3.
While wandering __________________________________.
Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural sounds. For example: The steam hissed from the open
valve. Onomatopoeia is a poetic device that produces an auditory image to the reader.
Underline the words you “hear” in these sentences:
1.
The train rumbled down the track.
2.
The truck’s brakes screeched in the distance.
3.
The old floor creaked as we walked across the room.
Complete the following sentences using onomatopoeia of your own:
1.
The rusty gate ___________________________________________.
2.
The branches ____________________________________________.
3.
The motorcycle _____________________________________________.