What is MAPOS?
MAPOS is a way to remember five very important devices used in descriptive writing or poetry. They are aimed at children working at levels 3, 4 and 5 in writing, although many children in key stage 1 may also be introduced to them early. MAPOS is to do with imagery- creating pictures in the minds of the reader so that it is clear to them what the author means. MAPOS encourages creativity, imagination and exaggeration.
| mapos.ppt |
Metaphors
Metaphors are used when describing something as if it was something else.
'Her eyes were glistening jewels,' would be a metaphor. It makes a comparison between two objects to create a clear image, without using 'as' or 'like.'
'Her eyes were glistening jewels,' would be a metaphor. It makes a comparison between two objects to create a clear image, without using 'as' or 'like.'
Alliteration
Alliteration makes use of the sound at the beginning of a word or series of words. It is important to remember it is the sound and not just a letter that is repeated.
'Towering trees twist their branches terrifyingly,' would be alliteration, with the 't' sound repeated but not necessarily in every word.
'Towering trees twist their branches terrifyingly,' would be alliteration, with the 't' sound repeated but not necessarily in every word.
Personification
Personification is a device that describes an inanimate object (one that is not alive) as if it were human or had the characteristics of a human. The object could be described to behave in a human-like manner.
'The sun pulled the boy out of the darkness and shone brightly down on him,' would be personification.
'The sun pulled the boy out of the darkness and shone brightly down on him,' would be personification.
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia, despite being hard to spell, is useful for helping a reader to imagine the sounds in a piece of writing. A lot of words sound like they are said, for example: crash, bounce, splash, burp, gurgle, drip and so on. There are many examples of onomatopoeia in everyday life... listen out for it!
Similes
Similes are the easier-to-use form of the metaphor. Whereas the metaphor compares one thing as if it were another, the simile compares one thing 'like' it were something else. 'The runner was like a speeding bullet' or 'the runner was as fast as a speeding bullet' are both examples of similes.