Sound Effects in PoetrySound Effects in Poetry

Alliteration, Assonance and RhymeAlliteration, Assonance and Rhyme& how they can contribute to & how they can contribute to meaningmeaning

AlliterationAlliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds

My stick fingers click with a snicker

Light footed my steel feelers flicker

. . . I’m light like the moon

AssonanceAssonance

Repetition of vowel sounds

My stick fingers click with a snicker

Light footed my steel feelers flicker

. . . I’m light like the moon

Focus on sound not spellingFocus on sound not spelling

� ““Sleigh,” “ rain”, “page” assonate Sleigh,” “ rain”, “page” assonate though they are spelled differently.though they are spelled differently.

� ““Cycle” and “sail” alliterate though Cycle” and “sail” alliterate though they are spelled differently.they are spelled differently.

� ““Ice” and “fish” don’t assonate. The Ice” and “fish” don’t assonate. The “ i” sound is different though it is “ i” sound is different though it is spelled the same.spelled the same.

onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia

� Words that sound like what they Words that sound like what they meanmean• Some single words are Some single words are

onomatopoeiasonomatopoeias– buzz, ding-dong, bang, hushbuzz, ding-dong, bang, hush– meow, woof, quackmeow, woof, quack– squeak, whisper, tittersqueak, whisper, titter

onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia

• Alliteration or assonance can Alliteration or assonance can create an onomatopoeiacreate an onomatopoeia– ““the monstrous anger of the the monstrous anger of the

guns: the stuttering rifles rapid guns: the stuttering rifles rapid rattle”rattle”

The repeated r and t sounds The repeated r and t sounds make this line sound like make this line sound like machine gunfiremachine gunfire

Rhyme--words with a similar Rhyme--words with a similar soundsound

� Exact Rhyme-- Exact Rhyme-- perfect assonance perfect assonance on a stressed on a stressed syllable followed syllable followed by the exact same by the exact same soundssounds

� Eye Rhyme--looks Eye Rhyme--looks like exact rhyme like exact rhyme but pronounced but pronounced differentlydifferently

� Examples of Exact Examples of Exact RhymeRhyme• cat/satcat/sat• kitten/mittenkitten/mitten• bumbling/fumblingbumbling/fumbling• alone/stonealone/stone

� Examples of Eye Examples of Eye RhymeRhyme• Blood/Food Blood/Food

Cow/LowCow/Low• Love/MoveLove/Move

Near RhymeNear Rhyme

� ConsonanceConsonance-- same final consonant -- same final consonant • hohomme/sae/samme deae deathth/tru/truthth

� AlliterationAlliteration + + AssonanceAssonance+ different final sound+ different final sound• blblaade/de/blblaame me ttiight/ght/ttiidede

� Initial Initial AlliterationAlliteration + + Consonance Consonance • blblaadde/e/blbloooodd ssaamme/e/ssoomme e

� identical identical unstressed syllableunstressed syllable following a different following a different stressed soundstressed sound• drowdrowningning/moa/moaningning

Other names for rhymesOther names for rhymes

� Exact Rhyme is also called Exact Rhyme is also called Perfect Rhyme.Perfect Rhyme.

� Near Rhyme is also calledNear Rhyme is also called• slant rhymeslant rhyme• approximate rhymeapproximate rhyme• half rhymehalf rhyme• off rhymeoff rhyme

� I will use “exact” and “near.”I will use “exact” and “near.”

Positions of rhymesPositions of rhymes

� The splendor falls on castle wallsThe splendor falls on castle walls� And snowy summits old in storyAnd snowy summits old in story� The long light shakes across the The long light shakes across the

lakeslakes� And the wild cataract leaps to gloryAnd the wild cataract leaps to glory

� falls/walls shakes/lakes are internal falls/walls shakes/lakes are internal rhymes. story/glory is an end rhyme. rhymes. story/glory is an end rhyme. All these rhymes are exact All these rhymes are exact

Rhyme schemeRhyme scheme

� A rhyme scheme is a pattern of end A rhyme scheme is a pattern of end rhymes used in a poem.rhymes used in a poem.

� Certain fixed forms call for certain Certain fixed forms call for certain rhyme schemes.rhyme schemes.

� We mark a rhyme scheme by labeling We mark a rhyme scheme by labeling the first final sound the first final sound aa. If the next . If the next final sound rhymes with the first it final sound rhymes with the first it also gets an also gets an aa, otherwise a , otherwise a bb and so and so on.on.

Labeling a Rhyme SchemeLabeling a Rhyme Scheme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Labeling a Rhyme SchemeLabeling a Rhyme Scheme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God. a

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; b

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil b

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? a

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; a

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; b

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil b

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. a

Look for Internal RhymeLook for Internal Rhyme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Look for Internal RhymeLook for Internal Rhyme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Look for Assonance and Look for Assonance and AlliterationAlliteration

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Look for Look for AssoAssonancenance and and AlliAlliterterationation

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.