Literary Devices Literary Devices    

Lesson 34: Onomatopoeia: Meeting at Night

by Robert Browning

Performer: Librivox - Lucy Perry

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

In 'Meeting at Night,' Robert Browning immerses the reader in the narrator's journey under a moonlit sky. The narrator rows in a boat, hikes over a sandy beach, and crosses three fields to arrive at a farm for a joyous reunion with a loved one. The poem uses Onomatopoeia in describing the narrator's tap at the pane, the scratch of a match, and the spurt of a flame.

Concepts

Poets often use literary devices, defined as 'rules of thumb, convention, or structure that are employed in literature and storytelling.'

The nine literary devices we'll study include:

1. Rhyming
2. Alliteration
3. Similes
4. Metaphors
5. Personification
6. Foreshadowing
7. Allusion
8. Hyperbole
9. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a literary device whereby an author uses a word that sounds like what it represents, such as 'gurgle' or 'hiss.'

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem. How does the image differ from the poem?

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Identify Onomatopoetic Examples

Read aloud the examples below and identify the onomatopoetic words.

• The old tugboat chugged up the river.
• The bottle rocket whizzed up into the sky and exploded with a pop.
• He cracked the walnut open.
• The kebabs sizzled on the grill.

Activity 5: Identify the Rhyme Scheme

Review the poem and identify the pattern of its rhyming scheme. (e.g. ABBACDCD, etc.)

Activity 6: Identify Alliteration

Review the poem and point out any instances of alliteration.

Activity 7: Identify Personified Object(s)

Review the poem excerpts and identify anything personified.

Activity 8: Identify Onomatopoetic Words

Review the poem excerpts and identify the onomatopoetic words.

• A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
• And blue spurt of a lighted match.

Activity 9: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 103-105 of 'Elementary Poetry 5: Literary Devices.'

References

'Onomatopoeia.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.