Alliteration is a literary device that involves the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in two or more words close together. It creates a rhythmic and musical effect in writing, especially in poetry.
At its finest, alliteration reproduces the sound of whatever feeling or mood that it tries to get across. At other times, it is simply pleasant to read and hear. Let's take a look at an example.
Noyes, "The Highwayman"(1907):
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
The poem uses alliteration to achieve several effects. The repetition of the "w" sound evokes the sound of the wind that is being described. The other uses of alliteration such as "ghostly galleon" is simply a delicious mix of impressive imagery and sonorous effects. However, Noyes also does more than use alliteration for pleasant effects. He matches sound with meaning in the following stanza:
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard.
He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred.
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord’s black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord’s daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
The first line uses a mixture of alliteration and onomatopoeia to recreate the sound of a horseman riding loudly over cobblestones. You can hear the iron-shoed hooves of the horse clanging against the cobbles from reading the line alone. The third line uses repetition of the "w" sound to imitate the sound of the whistling being described.
Why Do Writers Use Alliteration?
Writers use alliteration for several reasons. They are as follows:
1. To create a pleasing rhythm or musicality that makes the text more engaging.
2. To emphasize particular words or ideas, making them stand out.
3. It adds emotional depth and texture. For instance, soft consonants like "s" and "l" can evoke a calm or soothing tone, while harsher sounds like "k" and "t" might suggest tension or urgency.
Besides these reasons, alliteration can also heighten the imagery within a text. The repetition of sounds reflects the thematic elements of the piece, enhancing the overall sensory experience for the reader.
Examples of alliteration
William Shakespeare, one of history’s greatest playwrights and poets, frequently employed alliteration to enrich his works. Here are five examples that demonstrate his mastery of this technique:
1. “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes”– Romeo and Juliet
This line from the prologue is somewhat difficult to pronounce because of the repeated "f" sounds. It is an example of sound echoing sense, as teh difficulty in pronunciation reflects the strife and fighting between the two combatting families.
2. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”– Macbeth.
The witches’ chant is filled with alliteration, adding an eerie, rhythmic quality to their prophecy. It also reads like they are having villainous fun with the song, like the cartoonish Disney bad guys that they are portrayed as.
3. “How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night”– Romeo and Juliet
The soft “s” sounds create a sense of romance and tenderness. It also reproduces the sound effects of lovers quietly whispering to each other. Alliteration is not simply something used to ornament writing. It works best when it contributes to the meaning of the text. When carrying out rhetorical and literary analysis, always focus on that aspect.
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Cite this EminentEdit article |
Antoine, M. (2024, November 17). What Is Alliteration? https://www.eminentediting.com/post/what-is-alliteration |
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