Onomatopoeia

Figurative language is an exaggerated style of writing that draws comparisons between things to create a more vivid description.

Onomatopoeia is when a writer uses words that mimic the sound they stand for.

As we learn to use language as young children, our books and rhymes are full of onomatopoeic words. We learn animal noises such as ‘moo’ and ‘baa’. We write poems about fireworks using ‘whizz’ and ‘bang’.

As children get older, they can choose from a variety of onomatopoeic words to give effect. A well-chosen word can infer many things.

Example: The leaves crunched underfoot.

By using ‘crunched’, we know that the leaves are crispy, so maybe it’s Autumn? We know that it’s a sound. Does the character want to be heard?

How could you use onomatopoeia to follow this sentence?

I crept with trepidation towards the idle gate. __________________

Some onomatopoeic words you could choose:
Clang, click, clunk, creek, grunt, hiss, howl, murmur, ooze, screech, shuffle, snap, trickle, whack, whine, whisper