Where is it located in the words?
Line 4: “The flack jacket click-clacked against the brick wall.”
Primary Device:
Alliteration Consonance
Repeating Sound:
Where is it located in the words?
Sonic Verse • Grade 7 ELAR Page 1 of 2 Turn over for Close Reading & Sound Lab →
Page 2
Student Name:
Analyze the sound craft in these classic excerpts
“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—”
— Edgar Allan Poe, “The Raven”
Rhyme Label:
1. Identify the Internal Rhyme words in Line 1:
2. Identify sound repetition in Line 2 & its device:
3. Mood Effect: How do these rhythmic, heavy sounds match the speaker's emotional state?
“The buzz-saw snarled and rattled in the yard
And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,
Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.”
— Robert Frost, “Out, Out—”
1. Name two Onomatopoeia sound words in Line 1:
2. Find the Alliteration in Line 3 (circle/list words):
3. Sensory Shift: How does the harsh sound in Line 1 contrast with the gentle sound in Line 3?
Create your 4-line soundscape
Requirements: 4 lines • Rhyme scheme: AABB or ABAB • Must include Alliteration and Consonance or Onomatopoeia.
Line 1:
[Rhyme: _]
Line 2:
[Rhyme: _]
Line 3:
[Rhyme: _]
Line 4:
[Rhyme: _]
Identify your Alliteration words:
Identify your Consonance or Onomatopoeia:
Sonic Reflection Question:
Why does a line filled with hard consonant sounds (like /k/, /t/, /b/) feel different to a reader than a line filled with soft sounds (like /s/, /w/, /l/)?
Sonic Verse • Grade 7 ELAR Page 2 of 2 Classroom Resource • Keep in Poetry Folder
Primary Device:
✓ Alliteration
Repeating Sound:
Soft /s/ and /sl/ sibilant sound
Location:
Beginning of 5 words (front doorway)
Line 4: “The flack jacket click-clacked against the brick wall.” Key Solution
Primary Device:
✓ Consonance
Repeating Sound:
Percussive /k/ sound
Location:
Internal & word endings (flack, jacket, brick)
Sonic Verse • Grade 7 ELAR Answer Key Page 1 of 2 Turn over for Close Reading Solutions & Rubric →
Page 2 Key
Target Competencies: Analysis & Composition
6 Points Total
“The Raven” Excerpt (Edgar Allan Poe) Rhyme: AA / Unrhymed couplet opening
1. Internal Rhyme in Line 1: “dreary” and “weary” (matches rhyme inside line 1).
2. Sound repetition in Line 2: Alliteration on hard /k/ sound: “quaint and curious”.
3. Mood Effect: The hypnotic, heavy internal rhyming (/ē-rē/) and alliteration create a weary, trance-like, sorrowful rhythm echoing the speaker's exhaustion and midnight grief.
“Out, Out—” Excerpt (Robert Frost) Blank Verse (Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter)
1. Onomatopoeia in Line 1: “snarled” and “rattled” (imitate violent mechanical roar/chatter).
2. Alliteration in Line 3: “Sweet-scented stuff” (repetition of initial /s/ sound).
3. Sensory Shift: The menacing, animalistic mechanical noise in Line 1 contrasts sharply with the soft, gentle sibilant /s/ sounds in Line 3, lulling the reader into a false sense of domestic peace right before tragedy strikes.
10 Points Total
Model Student Exemplar (Rhyme Scheme: AABB):
Line 1: The sudden storm began to scream and blow, [A]
Line 2: White snowflakes whirled across the silent snow. [A]
Line 3: The shutters shook and banged with violent clatter, [B]
Line 4: While sleet and hail began to tap and spitter-spatter. [B]
Alliteration: “sudden storm... scream” (/s/) Consonance: “spitter-spatter” (/t/) • Onomatopoeia: “banged, clatter”
4-Line Form (2 pts) Stanza adheres strictly to 4 verse lines.
Rhyme Scheme (3 pts) Clear AABB or ABAB end-rhymes accurately marked.
Alliteration (3 pts) Clear repetition of initial consonant sounds in 2+ words.
Consonance/Ono (2 pts) Internal sound echoes or audio-mimic words present.
Part 5 Reflection Key — Core Conceptual Understanding:
Hard consonants (/k/, /t/, /b/, /p/ – stops/plosives) stop airflow in the mouth abruptly, evoking violence, tension, speed, impact, or anger. In contrast, soft consonants (/s/, /w/, /l/, /m/ – continuants/fricatives) allow breath to flow continuously, evoking stillness, gentleness, stealth, or calm. Sound physically manipulates the reader's vocal tract and emotional response!
Sonic Verse • Grade 7 ELAR Answer Key Page 2 of 2 Scoring Scale: 30–33 (Advanced) • 24–29 (Proficient) • 20–23 (Developing)
