“Onomatopoeia”

By: Eve MerriamBy: Eve Merriam

Presentation by: Ally and Presentation by: Ally and Stephanie Stephanie

The rusty spigotsputters,

uttersa splutter,

spatters a smattering of drops,gashes wider,

slash,splatters,scattersspurts,

finally stops sputteringand plash!

gushes rushes splashesclear water dashes.

Line One-A spigot is a

synonym for “faucet”

-Merriam is attempting to recreate the sounds an old rusty spigot makes when it is turned on.

Line Two: “sputters”

-water is exploding through the faucet

-the “sp” imitates the sound something makes when it sputters

-the sounds following “sp” are in a burst.

Line 3: “utters”-rhymes with line

before it-not an example of

onomatopoeia, but a metaphor comparing the faucet to human speech

-lacking the explosive “sp” sound

-personifying the faucet

Line 4: “a splutter”-an example of

onomatopoeia-symbolizing 2

drops out of the faucet

Line 5: “spatters a smattering of drops,”

-”spatter” is onomatopoeia

-assonance (similar vowel sounds)

-changes the “sp” sound to “sm” sound

Lines 6-7: “gashes wider; slash,”

-gash and slash do not imitate a sound, but are still considered onomatopoeia

Lines 8-9 : “splatters, scatters,”

-assonance-the “sp” sound is

back-introduces “sc”

sound-like a tongue twister

(the two sounds are hard to say continuously)

Lines 10-11: “spurts, finally stops sputtering”

-alliteration (“s” sound”

-”sp” sound -introduces “st”

sound

Line 12: “and plash!”-hearing the water hit

the sink for the first time

-the exclamation emphasizes this

-the climax of the poem is this line

Line 13: “gushes rushes splashes, clear water dashes.”

-last 2 lines are longer, symbolizing the water is flowing as a stream

-external rhyme

StructureStructure Structure of the poem can be shaped

into individual drops of water or streams of water coming out of the faucet

Lines 2 and 4 are arranged to look like drops of water

Lines 2 and 3 are one word each, but line 4 is two words, creating the image of 2 drops coming together to form a stream of water

Style Sputters/utters, splash/gashSputters/utters, splash/gash Sputter, splutter, splatter, splash, Sputter, splutter, splatter, splash,

spurt, and spigotspurt, and spigot 29 words, no specific rhyme scheme29 words, no specific rhyme scheme Spatter, smatter, scatter; splash, Spatter, smatter, scatter; splash,

plash, dash, gashplash, dash, gash ““gash” to “gush” (vowels)gash” to “gush” (vowels) ““rush” to “rusty” (consonants)rush” to “rusty” (consonants)

Overall MeaningOverall Meaning

- “Onomatopoeia” does not contain a very deep meaning

-can primarily be used for kids to read, as a tongue twister or a lesson in onomatopoeia

-represents a faucet struggling to produce clean, clear water

ImageryImagery

-“Onomatopoeia” has a lot of imagery-The reader can see an old faucet

struggling to release clear water-An old unused sink comes to mind, with

a rusty faucet head-Can see “clear water” dashing

About Eve Merriam

Born July 19, 1916 in Philadelphia, Penn. Both parents were born in Russia Wrote biographies, plays, and fictions, but is best known for poetry http://www.randomwalks.com/dayku/iraq-index.htm

  Earned bachelor’s degree from Univ. of Pennsylvania in

1937 Worked as the fashion copy editor for Glamour Magazine First collection of poetry is “Family Circle” Died of cancer in April 1992 in Manhattan, NY

About the Poem ““Onomatopoeia” is part of Onomatopoeia” is part of

Merriam’s book of poetry titled Merriam’s book of poetry titled It Doesn’t Always Have to Rhyme (1964)(1964)

Deals with words that imitate the Deals with words that imitate the sound that they definesound that they define

Provides a clear intro to the Provides a clear intro to the terminology and the joy of poetry.terminology and the joy of poetry.

Personal Response We thought the poem was a

fun poem to read out loud, although it didn’t hold any special meaning for us. The words are somewhat like a tongue twister, making it a poem that kids might enjoy.

Works Cited “Onomatopoeia.” Poetry For Students.

Eds. Mary K. Ruby and Lynn Koch. Vol. 6. Farmington Hills: Gale, 1999. 132-142.