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About this quote

What does it mean?
Thurber uses onomatopoeia to represent the rhythmic sound of machinery.
In plain terms
The machine sounds like ta-pocketa-pocketa.
What can you take from it?
Sound words can vividly describe mechanical noise.

Where it applies

  • storytelling
  • sound effects
  • industrial settings

Putting it to work

  • writing scenes
  • describing machines
  • sound design

Questions to consider

  • What does this sound like?
  • How do you hear it?

Another view

It lacks meaning without visual context.

More from James Thurber

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  2. 'To hell with the handkerchief,' said Walter Mitty scornfully. He took one last drag on his cigarette and snapped it away. Then, with that faint, fleeting smil…

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  3. All men kill the thing they hate, too, unless, of course, it kills them first.

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