Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words that are placed one after the other. It’s a literary device used to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorability in writing and speaking. Remember, alliteration is the repetition of the sound, not just the letter.
Consonantal Alliteration. Repetition of initial consonant sounds. This is the most common type of alliteration.
Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” (repetition of p sound).
Examples from Seven Ages
- “Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad”. Repetition of the “s” and “w” sounds.
- “Seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon’s mouth”.
- “Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard”
- “Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything”.
- “Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel”
- “The whining schoolboy, with his satchel and shining morning face“
- “Turning again toward childish treble, pipes and whistles in his sound”
Alliteration can take several forms depending on which sounds repeat, where they occur, and what effect they create. Here are the main kinds of alliteration, with explanations and examples:
- Vocalic Alliteration (Assonantal Alliteration). Repetition of initial vowel sounds. Less common, but effective in poetry.
Example: “An angry ant attacked an apple.” (repetition of a sound) - Internal Alliteration: Repetition of sounds within words or not only at the beginning. Example: “The silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain.” (internal s sounds)
- Adjacent Alliteration. Repetition of initial sounds in back-to-back words. Example: “Whispering winds”
- Symmetrical Alliteration. Patterned repetition with reversal, like ABBA structure. Example: “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” (repetition of f sounds at beginning and end)
- Unvoiced Alliteration (Soft Alliteration). Uses softer sounds, like s, h, l, w, often to create gentle or smooth tone. Example: “Silent snow softly settles.”
- Voiced Alliteration (Harsh Alliteration). Uses harder or harsher consonants, like b, d, k, g, t, to create strong rhythm or aggression. Example: “Brutal battles broke bones.”
- Extended Alliteration. The alliterative sound continues through an entire line or passage, not just a phrase. Example: “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing…” (from Poe – “d”, “l”, “w”, “f” repeated)
