Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is often used in cartoons. When one cartoon hits another, the word "pow" might be used to represent the impact of the hit. If a bell is ringing, the words "ding," "dong," or "brrring" might be used to represent the sound made by the bell. Onomatopoeia is also found in the early stages of speaking. Think about young children playing with toy cars. The "vroooom" and "beep, beep" sounds they make are onomatopoeia: sound words that represent or imitate a sound.

Sounds in the Night

Think about some of the sounds you might hear at night. What Onomatopoetic Diction might you use to represent those sounds?

Click on the link above to see how one college student answered this question.

Mrs. Munger's Class

Often times we use Onomatopoeia without even realizing it. Think about some common Onomatopoetic words you know. What are they?

Click the link above to watch a short video demonstrating how common, and often overlooked, Onomatopoeia can be.

Denotation vs Connotation

Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word. When an author uses a word for its denotative definition, he/she is using the literal definition to which most readers are likely to connect. For quick access to denotative definitions, use the following links: Dictionary.com, Merriam-Webster

Consider the following words.

home
house
dwelling
residence

While all of these words are different, they share a common denotative definition. What might that definition be?



Connotation is the definition of a word based on both the denotative definition as well as other associations that word has. This definition can vary from culture to culture and even from person to person.

Consider the following words again.

home
house
dwelling
residence

What is the connotative definition of each word? How does the connotative definition of each word help to distinguish it from the others?

Alliteration

While alliteration comes natually to some poeple, most writers find it necessary to edit and revise writing to add alliteration. When using alliteration, writers are careful to use a letter sound that also adds to the rhythm and mood of the writing.

Let's Sing a Song about J

Consider the letter J. What type of sound does a J make?

What are some words starting with J?

What mood might J suggest?

Click the link above to watch a Sesame Street video that uses the letter J. Notice the J letter words and the effect those words seem to have.

V's Monologue from V for Vendetta

Consider the letter V. What type of sound does a V make?

What are some words starting with V?

What mood might V suggest?

Click the link above to watch a clip from V for Vendetta that uses the letter V. Notice the V letter words and the effect those words seem to have.

Rhyme Scheme

A Quick Lesson in Rhyme Scheme

Let's start with something short.

Four

Four year olds are children of the sky:  A
Opening to mystery and light,  B
Understanding sorrow and delight,  B
Racing towards the farthest reach of why.  A

Are there rhyming couplets, is the poem written in free verse, or is there a rhyme scheme to this poem?


What types of rhyme did you find in this poem?    End Rhyme?    Internal Rhyme?    Slant Rhyme?    Exact Rhyme?

And now something a bit longer.

JABBERWOCKY

Lewis Carroll

(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
 `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves  A  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:  B All mimsy were the borogoves,  A  And the mome raths outgrabe.  B

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!  C  The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!  DBeware the Jubjub bird, and shun  C  The frumious Bandersnatch!"  D
He took his vorpal sword in hand:  E  Long time the manxome foe he sought --  FSo rested he by the Tumtum tree,  G  And stood awhile in thought.  F
And, as in uffish thought he stood, H  The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,  ICame whiffling through the tulgey wood,  H  And burbled as it came!  I
One, two! One, two! And through and through  J  The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! KHe left it dead, and with its head L  He went galumphing back. K 
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? M  Come to my arms, my beamish boy! NO frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' M  He chortled in his joy. N `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves  A  
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; BAll mimsy were the borogoves, A  And the mome raths outgrabe. B 
Are there rhyming couplets, is the poem written in free verse, or is there a rhyme scheme to this poem?
What types of rhyme did you find in this poem?    End Rhyme?    Internal Rhyme?    Slant Rhyme?    Exact Rhyme?