The Bells

Worksheet Description

This worksheet uses an excerpt from the poem “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe to explore onomatopoeia. Students are instructed to read the given stanzas and underline the words that are examples of onomatopoeia, which are words that phonetically imitate the sounds they describe. The poem includes vivid sound words that represent the ringing of bells and the associated feelings they evoke. After identifying onomatopoeic words in the poem, students are then prompted to think of an object that makes a sound and write a few lines of poetry using onomatopoeia to describe the sound of that object.

The worksheet aims to teach students the literary device of onomatopoeia, enhancing their appreciation of how sound can be expressed through words in poetry. It encourages students to engage with classic literature and observe how poets use language to evoke sensory experiences. By creating their own lines of poetry, students apply their understanding of onomatopoeia creatively. This activity not only improves their literary analysis skills but also fosters creative writing and a deeper understanding of poetic techniques.