The old door creaked open.
a. hyperbole
b. alliteration
c. onomato poeia
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is c) onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate the natural sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. In this sentence, “creaked” is an example of onomatopoeia because it imitates the sound made by the door when it opens. The word “creaked” resembles the sound of a door hinge moving slowly, adding an auditory element to the sentence that mimics real life.
Explanation of other options:
- Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. It often involves describing something in extreme terms to emphasize a point. For instance, saying “The door screamed in pain as it opened” would be hyperbole because the door cannot literally scream.
- Alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to each other. For example, “The door delicately drifted open” would be alliteration due to the repeated “d” sound.
In this sentence, the word “creaked” helps convey the exact sound the door makes, giving a vivid and sensory description. The use of onomatopoeia enhances the reader’s experience by appealing to their sense of hearing. It’s especially effective in creating atmosphere, as in this case, the creaking of the door might suggest something eerie or suspenseful.
Onomatopoeia is commonly used in literature, poetry, and daily language to bring an extra layer of vividness and realism to descriptions. The choice of “creaked” is particularly fitting because it immediately evokes an image of a door that is either old or neglected, adding to the overall mood of the scene.