What is Assonance in Literature? Definition & Examples
Assonance is a literary device that repeats vowel sounds in nearby words. It is used to create a lyrical or musical effect in the text. Assonance can be used to emphasize certain words or make passages more memorable. In poetry, assonance is often used to create rhymes.
What is Assonance in Literature?
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. The vowels can be repeated in the same word, as in “moon” and “June,” or between different words, as in “bat” and “pat.”
What is Assonance in Figurative Language?
Assonance in figurative language means the usage of assonance in prose, poems, songs, and other literary forms. In poetry, assonance is often used to create rhymes that help with the poem’s rhythm. Assonance may also be employed in order to add extra emphasis to a particular word or phrase.
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In prose, assonance is sometimes used to make a sequence of sentences more memorable.
In What Contexts is Assonance Commonly Found?
Assonance is commonly found in poetry, prose, and songs. It may also be used in other literary forms for specific effects.
Assonance is often used in poetry to create rhymes and add rhythm. In prose, it can be used to make a sequence of sentences more memorable. And in songs, assonance may be used to emphasize certain words or phrases.
What are the Examples of Assonance from Literature?
1. “The rain patters Against the window panes like Tiny footsteps .” -Rabbit Will Beat His Wife by Emily Carroll (artwork)
2. “I’d like to see it rain fire in the daytime and the stars come out at night and shine on all those poor little innocent children.”
3. “It was my thirteenth birthday, and I had just gotten a brand new diary with my initials on it.”
4. “Knees weak, arms are heavy There’s vomit on his sweater already: Mom’s spaghetti Everyone’s laughing He walks into the classroom Looks around but doesn’t see her Where is she?” -Hurt by Christina Aguilera (lyrics)
5. “Ink ran from the corners of his mouth as he bit down hard on his tongue to keep the pain inside.”
6. “Trees are bare, women wear shawls. The sky is pewter, belly is bowls of taut skin under tauter ribs. I have not loved since then drowsing among daffodils drenched in sunlight that slanted through the windows on velvet petals I never want to see again.” -The Venus Tree by Michael Turner (novel)
7. “I was born when she was ten years old.”
8. “This cold suffocating darkens my soul until all that I know moves away from me and vanishes into a hollowness I cannot bear.”
9. “An owl hooted in the sycamore, and the wind whispered through the grasses.”
10. “The pumpkins sit on mounds of hay that are tinted gold with autumn glow beneath the slanting sunlight, lining paths where people pass to reach their cars after shopping for groceries.”
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11. “We shoot our words into this blue above us—they tumble down, down without echoes or answers or complaints, saying all they have to say in simple sad syllables before disappearing into nothingness.”
12. “First day of school he told me I was pretty; last day of school he called me ugly.”
13. “Avery stepped out into the hot humid night and took a deep breath while she listened to the crickets’ orchestra.”
14. “The sun rose in a yellow sky, and a fresh wind blew. It was going to be a beautiful day.”
15. “There’s no knife big enough to cut this pain from me, there is no bloodstain deep enough to wash away my mistakes.”
16. “In the distance, she could see the city’s skyline—a glittering array of lights that seemed to stretch on forever.”
17. “The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.”
How do You Write Assonance?
Assonance is generally written in a way where there is a slight change in the vowel sound within several nearby words. Sometimes, assonance may be represented with an accent mark to indicate the specific pronunciation of a vowel. For example: ˈfəʊl ˌkjuːz ̬aɪ ˈdɔːlʒəri
How is Assonance Used in Songs?
Assonance may be employed to emphasize words or phrases within songs. For example, it can be used to highlight particular lyrics that are repeated throughout the song. Assonance may also be used for rhyming purposes or to make a sequence of sentences more memorable. It may be used as a songwriting technique to suggest certain moods or themes.
Song examples:
– Shake It Out by Florence and the Machine
–Hurt by Christina Aguilera (lyrics)
-All I Have by Jennifer Lopez (Lyrics)
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-Diamonds by Rihanna (lyrics)
-Skyfall by Adele (lyrics)
-Let It Go sung by Idina Menzel from the movie Frozen
How Does Assonance Create Rhythms in Poetry?
Assonance may be used to create rhymes and add rhythm to poems. In order to create a rhythmic effect, assonance may be repeated within lines or in sets of multiple lines. For example:
“I walked into the room with a red cap and my hair was perfect. The music played in the background but I couldn’t hear anything.”
“I don’t know how it happened; I only know you weren’t there when I tried to fly from the edge of your bed.”
“He’s walking on eggshells but he doesn’t know what for.”
In addition to adding rhythm, assonance can add emphasis by making certain words/phrases more noticeable than others. In this case, one particular vowel sound is repeated rather than changing slightly within nearby words/phrases. For example:
“She sells seashells by the seashore.”
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
“How do you write assonance?”
What Are Some Examples of Assonance in Everyday Speech?
Assonance is commonly used in everyday speech, but it may not always be noticeable. Some examples of assonance in daily conversation include: saying “I see what you mean,” “I can hear you loud and clear,” or “He’s doing his own thing.”
In most cases, assonance is used subconsciously to make certain words sound more pleasant or to create a sense of cohesion within a sentence.
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Occasionally, assonance is used for comedic effect. For example, a person might say “I’m let you finish but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.”
Alliteration vs Assonance?
Alliteration is used for similar purposes as assonance. However, alliteration generally refers to consonants that are repeated while assonance focuses on the repetition of vowel sounds.
Alliteration can also be seen more readily than assonance due to the fact that it tends to create more obvious patterns within phrases or sentences. Assonance is often used for rhyming purposes, to create rhythm, or to emphasize particular words/phrases.
How do You Use Assonance?
Assonance can be used in writing and speech as a way to add emphasis or create sound patterns. It may also be employed as part of songwriting techniques. Assonance can be found in poetry and songs, and it may help create rhythms and rhymes within these forms of text.
Assonance is mostly used for its aesthetic or musical properties; however, it can also be used to add emphasis, make certain words/phrases more memorable, or convey a particular mood.
How do you create Assonance in Your Writing?
There is no one specific way to create assonance in your writing. However, repetition of vowel sounds is generally a good place to start. You can also try changing the ending of a word so that it rhymes with another word or phrase. Additionally, you can use alliteration to create consonant patterns within your text. Ultimately, it takes practice to find the techniques that work best for you and your writing style.
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How do You use Assonance in Your Speech?
Assonance can be used in speech in a number of ways. You may repeat vowel sounds within lines or groups of lines to create rhythm. Additionally, you can emphasize certain words or phrases by repeating vowel sounds. Assonance works well for rhyming purposes, and it can also be used to convey a particular mood or tone.
Final Thoughts
Assonance is a technique that can be used in writing and speech to add emphasis, create rhythm, or convey a certain mood or tone. It involves the repetition of vowel sounds within lines or groups of lines. Additionally, alliteration may be used to create consonant patterns. Assonance is often used for rhyming purposes and to create a sense of cohesion within a sentence. Ultimately, it takes practice to find the techniques that work best for you and your writing or speaking style.