In poetry and song, sound devices like consonance and assonance are essential for creating rhythm, mood, and musicality. Though they serve similar purposes and often work together, they involve different types of sound repetition. This lesson will define each term and provide examples to clarify their correct usage.
Assonance
Definition:
Assonance is the repetition of similar vowel sounds in words that are close together. It is often used to create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences and to enhance the musical quality of a piece of writing.
Examples of Use:
“Hear the mellow wedding bells.” — Edgar Allan Poe
The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.
He seems to beam rays of sunshine with his eyes.
Consonance
Definition:
Consonance is the repetition of middle or ending consonant sounds in words that are close together. It differs from alliteration, which is the repetition of initial consonant sounds. Consonance is used to create a sense of rhythm and unity within a piece of writing.
Examples of Use:
“And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain.” — Edgar Allan Poe
The lumpy, bumpy road.
The ship has sailed to the far off shores.
Both consonance and assonance are sound devices that poets and songwriters use to enhance the auditory appeal of their work. Assonance involves the repetition of vowel sounds, while consonance involves the repetition of consonant sounds, particularly in the middle or at the end of words. By understanding and recognizing these devices, you can better appreciate the nuances of poetry and song, and use them effectively in your own writing.
