This week, you were stunned when I listed all the figurative language in SpongeBob SquarePants. Some of you had never before made the alliteration connection: SpongeBob SquarePants lives in Bikini Bottom where he works at the Krusty Krab; his heroes are Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy; he sings a song called "Goofy Goober"; and he is friends with Larry the Lobster. The host of special episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants is Patchy the Pirate. The names of episodes repeat sounds at the beginning of nearby words: "Tea at the Treedome," "Naughty Nautical Neighbors," "Jellyfish Jam," "Something Smells," "Bossy Boots," "Bubble Buddy," etc. Even the theme song contains alliteration ("nautical nonsense," "drop on the deck," and "flop like a fish")! Growing up, you probably loved many other cartoon characters whose names used alliteration: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daffy Duck, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Betty Boop, Fred Flinstone, Peter Pan, Timmy Turner, and more. The creators of these characters were brilliant because they knew that you would remember the names better if they used alliteration. After all, SpongeBob's pants are not even square! However, I cannot imagine singing, "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob RECTANGLEPANTS!"
--Ms. Sanford
P.S. Report back to me with any real-life examples of alliteration that you come across! Next week, we will explore some of my other favorite pieces of figurative language as we watch a clip on hyperboles and play idiom charades.