If you are unsure what onomatopoeia is, look at the TEACHERS PAGE, FIGURATIVE WRITING, ONOMATOPOEIA for details. The simplest definition of onomatopoeia is that it refers to words which sound like what they mean (eg Hiss, sizzle etc) The use of onomatopoeia tends to to be effective for the reader as it involves the senses. An onomatopoeic word sounds like the actual sound that it refers to, so it leaves less to the imagination. I have tried to identify any of my poems which use onomatopoeia in one way or another and have listed them all in this category, together with a brief description with each poem giving details of what other figurative language features within it, as there is often lots of different figurative language in a poem, not just one type.
Five silly children cockling on their chairs
All of a sudden they were caught unawares…… [click to continue…]
Consonant Classes
Debra the Zebra did consonance classes
And Rodger the Badger did too;
Murtle the Turtle joined in the learning
In class at the consonance zoo. [click to continue…]
I have had requests for journey poems and for a river acrostic poem, and have taken this River’s Journey poem one step further to include aspects of a shape poem. It is great for teaching figurative language as it includes lots of personification, metaphors and alliteration, and some onomatopoeia.