Assonance

Introduction

Assonance is a figure of speech that is found more often in verse than in prose. It refers to the repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences. In this article, we will explore this figure of speech, defining it and illustrating its use in literature.

Let’s start with understanding what assonance means!

What is Assonance?

Assonance is a literary device in which vowel sounds are repeated within nearby words in a sentence or line of poetry. This repetition of vowel sounds helps create a musical or rhythmic quality in the text, enhancing the overall auditory experience for the reader or listener.

Unlike rhyme, which involves the repetition of both consonant and vowel sounds at the end of words, assonance focuses solely on vowel sounds.

Examples of assonance:

1. The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.
   • In this famous sentence, the long “a” sound is repeated in “rain,” “Spain,” “mainly,” and “plain.”
2. He feels the beat, sweet and complete.
   • The long “e” sound is repeated in “feels,” “beat,” and “sweet.”
3. Hear the mellow wedding bells.
   • The long “e” sound is repeated in “hear,” “mellow,” and “wedding.”
4. Go and mow the lawn.
   • The long “o” sound is repeated in “go,” “mow,” and “lawn.”
5. The cat sat on the mat.
   • The short “a” sound is repeated in “cat,” “sat,” and “mat.”

Why is Assonace Used by Writers and Poets?

Assonance is often used by writers to evoke a specific mood or tone, create a sense of harmony, or establish a musical flow in their writing. It adds a layer of musicality and rhythm, contributing to the overall artistic expression of the text.

It serves various artistic and communicative purposes when used in literature and poetry:

1. Musicality and Rhythm: Assonance contributes to the musical quality of a piece of writing. The repetition of vowel sounds creates a rhythmic pattern, making the text more melodic and pleasing to the ear. This musicality can enhance the overall aesthetic experience for the reader or listener.
2. Emphasis and Memorability: The repetition of specific vowel sounds can draw attention to certain words or phrases, emphasizing key ideas or themes. This can make those words more memorable and impactful, helping to convey the author’s intended meaning more effectively.
3. Mood and Tone: Assonance can influence the mood and tone of a literary work. Depending on the choice of vowel sounds, it can create a sense of calm, excitement, tension, or melancholy. The sound patterns contribute to the emotional atmosphere of the text, allowing writers to evoke specific feelings in their audience.
4. Unity and Coherence: The use of assonance can provide a sense of unity and coherence within a piece of writing. The repetition of vowel sounds can create a cohesive thread that ties together different elements of a text, enhancing its overall structure and flow.
5. Stylistic Flourish: Writers often use assonance as a stylistic flourish to add complexity and sophistication to their language. It showcases careful attention to sound and language, demonstrating the author’s craftsmanship.
6. Enhancing Imagery: In poetry, assonance can be employed to enhance imagery and create vivid mental pictures. The repetition of certain vowel sounds can mimic the sounds or qualities associated with the objects or scenes being described.

Assonance vs. Consonance vs. Alliteration: Exploring Sound Devices in Language

Although assonance, consonance, and alliteration share similarities, each serves a unique purpose in shaping the auditory experience for the reader or listener. While assonance and consonance focus on the repetition of vowel and consonant sounds, respectively, alliteration places emphasis on repeating initial consonant sounds.

1. Assonance: Assonance involves the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words in a sentence or line of poetry. It contributes to the musical quality of the text, creating a harmonious and rhythmic effect. The focus is on the vowel sounds rather than the consonants, and the repeated sounds can be found in stressed or unstressed syllables. For example, in the phrase “fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese,” the long “e” sound is repeated, enhancing the fluidity of the sentence.

2. Consonance: Consonance, on the other hand, involves the repetition of consonant sounds, particularly at the end of words. Unlike rhyme, which requires both vowel and consonant repetition, consonance focuses solely on the consonants. This technique adds a sense of closure and resonance to the language. For instance, in the phrase “blank and think,” the “nk” sound is repeated, creating a subtle connection between the words.

3. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words. It often appears at the beginning of words but can extend to stressed syllables within the words. Alliteration adds a rhythmic quality to the text, making it memorable and pleasing to the ear. In the famous line, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” the repeated “p” sound creates a playful and whimsical tone.

	Assonance	Consonance	Alliteration
Definition	Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words in a sentence or line of poetry.	Repetition of consonant sounds, particularly at the end of words.	Repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words.
Focus	Vowel sounds.	Consonant sounds, often at the end of words.	Initial consonant sounds.
Example	“fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese.”	“blank and think.”	“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Purpose	Enhances musicality and rhythm and contributes to a harmonious effect.	Adds closure and resonance to the language.	Creates rhythm, memorability, and a playful tone.
Usage	Often found in poetry.	Found in both poetry and prose.	Common in poetry and tongue twisters.
Emphasis	Vowel sounds within words.	Consonant sounds, particularly at the end of words.	Initial consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

Examples of Assonance in Literature

The poet Edgar Allan Poe wrote this line, and it is taken from his famous poem “The Raven.” The assonance in this line contributes to the poem’s musicality and creates a sense of melancholy and uncertainty, fitting the overall mood of the work.

” And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;”

The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe

Another instance of this figure of speech can be found in “The Feast of Famine” by Robert Louis Stevenson:

“The crumbling thunder of seas”

From “The Feast of Famine”  by Robert Louis Stevenson

Samuel Taylor Coleridge also used assonance in the following lines:

The inmates of my cottage, all at rest,
Have left me to that solitude, which suits
Abstruser musings: save that at my sideMy cradled infant slumbers peacefully.

From “Frost at Midnight” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The use of assonance is present in the repetition of the long “u” sound in the words “suits” and “solitude.”

Assonance is mainly used in verse as we have seen in the examples above. Yet, it may also find itself in prose, too. In the following passage by James Joice, The repetition of the vowel sound “i” creates a melody similar to that found in verse.

It also occurs in prose:

Soft language issued from their spitless lips as they swished in low circles round and round the field, winding hither and thither through the weeds.

From “Portrait of the Artist as a Young” Man by James Joyce

Assonance is skillfully used to create a rhythmic and harmonious quality in the language. The repetition of the short “i” sound adds a musical cadence to the description.

Conclusion

In summary, assonance, a figure of speech, involves skillful repetition of vowel sounds, primarily in verse but also applicable in prose. Unlike consonance and alliteration, which focus on consonant sounds, assonance emphasizes vowel harmony. Its versatile use enhances the rhythmic and melodic qualities of language, contributing to a nuanced and evocative literary experience. As a literary device, assonance stands as a powerful tool, capable of infusing language with subtlety and resonance, enriching both poetry and prose.

Related Pages:

• More figures of speech
• Listen to The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe