Define onomatopoeia and give an example from a poem or a story.

English Literary Devices Questions Medium



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Define onomatopoeia and give an example from a poem or a story.

Onomatopoeia is a literary device that refers to the use of words that imitate or resemble the sound they describe. It is used to create a vivid and sensory experience for the reader by using words that sound like what they represent.

An example of onomatopoeia can be found in the poem "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe. In this poem, Poe uses onomatopoeic words to mimic the sounds of different types of bells. For instance, the line "How they clang, and clash, and roar!" uses words like "clang," "clash," and "roar" to imitate the loud and resonating sounds of bells. Through the use of onomatopoeia, Poe enhances the auditory experience of the reader, allowing them to hear the sounds of the bells in their mind as they read the poem.