Onomatopoeia

What is onomatopoeia?

• A type of rhyme in poetry

• A literary device that uses words to imitate sounds

• A method of storytelling

• A form of dialogue in plays

Answer explanation

Onomatopoeia is a literary device that uses words to imitate sounds, such as 'buzz' or 'sizzle'. This distinguishes it from other options like rhyme, storytelling, or dialogue, making the correct choice clear.

Which of the following words are examples of onomatopoeia?

• Whisper

• Run

• Murmur

• Soft

Answer explanation

Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate sounds. 'Whisper' and 'murmur' mimic soft sounds, making them examples of onomatopoeia. 'Run' and 'soft' do not represent sounds, so they are not correct.

Which of the following is NOT a type of sound that onomatopoeia can mimic?

• Animal sounds

• Human sounds

• Musical notes

• Inanimate object sounds

Answer explanation

Onomatopoeia mimics sounds like animal noises (e.g., 'meow'), human sounds (e.g., 'laugh'), and inanimate object sounds (e.g., 'bang'). However, it does not typically mimic musical notes, making 'Musical notes' the correct answer.

What is an example of a direct onomatopoeia?

• Whisper

• Crash

• Murmur

• Creak

Answer explanation

'Crash' is a direct onomatopoeia as it imitates the sound of a collision or impact. Unlike 'whisper' or 'murmur', which suggest softer sounds, 'crash' vividly represents a loud, sudden noise.

Which of the following is a characteristic of onomatopoeia?

• It is always a figure of speech

• It is a figure of sound

• It cannot be used in poetry

• It is only used in dialogue

Answer explanation

Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate sounds, making it a figure of sound. The other options are incorrect as it can be used in poetry and dialogue, and it is not always a figure of speech.

Mia is writing a story and wants her readers to imagine the sounds in her scenes, like the "buzz" of bees or the "crash" of thunder. What is the purpose of using onomatopoeia in her writing?

• To confuse the reader

• To create a soundscape and evoke imagery

• To make sentences longer

• To replace adjectives

Answer explanation

The purpose of using onomatopoeia in Mia's writing is to create a soundscape and evoke imagery, allowing readers to vividly imagine the sounds in her scenes, enhancing their overall experience.

Which of the following is an example of onomatopoeia emphasising action?

• The gentle breeze.

• The smash of glass.

• The bright sunlight.

• The soft whisper.

Answer explanation

The smash of glass is an example of onomatopoeia because it imitates the sound of breaking glass, emphasizing the action vividly. The other options do not convey a strong action sound.

How does onomatopoeia differ from personification?

• Onomatopoeia uses human traits.

• Onomatopoeia mimics real-world sounds.

• Onomatopoeia describes visual images.

• Onomatopoeia repeats the same sound.

Answer explanation

Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate real-world sounds, like 'buzz' or 'sizzle'. In contrast, personification attributes human traits to non-human entities. Thus, the correct choice highlights onomatopoeia's sound-mimicking nature.

What is the role of onomatopoeia in imagery?

• It replaces all descriptive language.

• It adds sound details to enhance sensory appeal.

• It focuses only on visual descriptions.

• It limits the use of other literary devices.

Answer explanation

Onomatopoeia enhances imagery by adding sound details, which enriches the sensory experience for the reader. This auditory element complements visual descriptions, making the text more vivid and engaging.

Which of the following sentences contains an example of onomatopoeia?

• The sky was clear and blue.

• The flowers bloomed in spring.

• The clock ticked loudly in the quiet room.

• The cat slept on the windowsill.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The clock ticked loudly in the quiet room.' because 'ticked' imitates the sound of a clock, making it an example of onomatopoeia, which refers to words that phonetically resemble the sound they describe.