English Literature / Unit 1 ENL 0022 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Onomatopoeia, Euphony, Cacophony
Captions available
The idea
Onomatopoeia is a word whose sound suggests its meaning, such as bang. Euphony is sound heard as pleasant; cacophony, sound heard as harsh. Hopkins's "seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil" repeats one harsh sound three times, which readers commonly hear as matching the ugliness described.
In practice
Sound that means, soothes or grates.
Where people slip
Harsh sound can be deliberate craft.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
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