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Definition of Assonance in Literature
Assonance is a literary device in which identical vowel sounds are repeated in closely placed words to create rhythm, musicality, or emphasis. Unlike rhyming, which usually occurs at the end of words, assonance can appear within words and throughout a line or sentence.
Simple Definition for Kids
Assonance is when the same vowel sound is repeated in nearby words to make language sound nice or musical. E.g. “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”The repeated vowel sound is /eɪ/, heard in: r/eɪ/n, Sp/eɪ/n, st/eɪ/z, m/eɪ/nli, pl/eɪ/n.
Example in a Sentence
For example, in the line from John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn” (1820):
“Thou still unravished bride of quietness,
Thou foster child of silence and slow time…”
The repeated /aɪ/ vowel sound in child, silence, and time creates assonance, which produces a soft, lingering musical effect that reinforces the poem’s calm, meditative tone.
Etymology & Pronunciation
The term assonance derives from the Latin word assonare, meaning “to sound alike” or “to answer with sound.” It entered English literary terminology in the 16th century.
It is pronounced as /ˈæs.ə.nəns/ (“ASS-uh-nuhns”).
10 Examples of Assonance in Literature
1. The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.
Assonance is realised through the repeated diphthong /eɪ/ in rain, Spain, stays, mainly, and plain. It establishes a smooth, continuous rhythmic pattern across the clause.
2. Try to light the fire.
The sentence exhibits assonance by repeating the diphthong /aɪ/ in try and light. It acoustically links the two actions.
3. Go and mow the old lawn.
Assonance occurs in the repetition of the diphthong /əʊ/ in go, mow, and old. It produces a rounded, lingering sound effect.
4. The cat sat back.
The short vowel /æ/ recurs in cat, sat, and back. It creates a compact and rhythmically emphatic instance of assonance.
5. Hear the mellow wedding bells.
Assonance is generated by the mid-front vowel /e/ in mellow, wedding, and bells. It softens the auditory texture of the line.
6. Men sell the wedding bells.
The repetition of the vowel /e/ in men, sell, and bells produces phonological cohesion within the sentence.
7. Those ghosts spoke most.
The diphthong /əʊ/ repeated in those, ghosts, spoke, and most gives the utterance a hollow, echoing resonance.
8. She sleeps deeply.
Assonance is achieved through the long vowel /iː/ in she, sleeps, and deeply. It reinforces the semantic notion of restfulness.
9. Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese.
The persistent recurrence of /iː/ in fleet, feet, sweep, sleeping, and geese produces a sustained melodic continuity.
10. The moon rose over the lonely road.
The diphthong /əʊ/ in rose, over, lonely, and road slows the rhythm and supports the sentence’s reflective mood.
Functions of Assonance
1. Assonance makes writing sound rhythmic. The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words creates a kind of melody that is pleasant to read or hear.
2. Assonance emphasises certain words. The repeated sounds draw attention to key words; they help them stand out in the reader’s or listener’s mind.
3. Assonance sets a mood or tone. Different vowel sounds can create different feelings. For example, /əʊ/ sounds might make a line feel sad or slow, while short /i/ sounds can make it feel lively or quick.
4. Assonance links words and ideas together. Repeating vowel sounds creates a connection between words, which makes the writing feel more unified.
5. Assonance makes phrases easier to remember. Because of its musical quality, lines with assonance are more memorable, much like catchy song lyrics or slogans.
More Examples of Assonance in Literature
1. The cat naps under a shady branch.
In this sentence, the /æ/ sound appears in the words cat, naps, and branch. The repetition of this vowel sound creates a gentle and connected feel. It adds a sense of cohesion and draws the reader’s attention to the main elements of the scene, namely the cat and its quiet resting place.
2. The glowing coals hold old souls.
The /əʊ/ sound repeats in glowing, coals, hold, old, and souls. This repetition creates a sense of continuity between the elements in the sentence.
3. We seek peace beneath the green leaves.
The /iː/ sound in seek, peace, beneath, green, and leaves helps the reader feel the tranquillity of the scene, while subtly making the words more memorable through their musical repetition.
4. A fool who moves through rooms too soon.
Here, the /uː/ sound repeats in fool, who, moves, through, rooms, too, and soon, which adds a smooth, flowing rhythm to the sentence. The repeated sound mirrors the continuous motion described.
5. The fat cat sat back and laughed.
The /æ/ sound appears in fat, cat, sat, and back. It gives the sentence a playful and rhythmic quality.
6. The pale rain falls and waits in vain.
The /eɪ/ sound in pale, rain, waits, and vain gives the sentence a lyrical and slightly melancholy tone. The repeated vowel sound links the words together, reinforcing the mood of quiet sadness and creating a rhythm that mirrors the gentle, persistent falling of the rain.
7. Old soldiers told bold stories.
The /əʊ/ sound in old, soldiers, told, bold, and stories creates a commanding and resonant rhythm. This assonance emphasises the strength and gravitas of the characters and their tales.
8. He dreams of green seas and beams of light.
The /iː/ sound in beams, green, seas, and dreams beautifully portrays the use of assonance.
9. The quiet night hides the shy fireflies.
The /aɪ/ sound repeats in night, hides, shy, and fireflies to produce a gentle and mysterious effect. This assonance mirrors the subtle movement of fireflies and the calmness of the night.
10. Blue moons move through the cool dunes.
In this sentence, the /uː/ sound appears in blue, moons, move, through, cool, and dunes. The repetition creates a calm and flowing atmosphere that reflects the smooth, serene motion of the moons over the landscape.
Other Literary Devices
Frequently Asked Questions about Assonance
1. What is the difference between alliteration and assonance?
Alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, while assonance focuses on repeating vowel sounds, regardless of their position in the word. For example, “She sells seashells” demonstrates alliteration, whereas “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plains” is an example of assonance.
2. How does assonance differ from consonance?
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the end or middle of words, whereas assonance repeats vowel sounds. For instance, in “The lumpy, bumpy road,” the repetition of “m-p” sounds shows consonance, while “The rain in Spain” shows assonance.
3. What is the purpose or effect of assonance in literature?
Assonance adds rhythm, musicality, and cohesion to lines of text. It can enhance mood, emphasise important words, make lines more memorable, and connect ideas subtly.
4. Are alliteration and assonance types of sound devices?
Yes. Both alliteration and assonance are considered sound devices because they manipulate the sounds of words rather than their meanings. Along with consonance, onomatopoeia, and rhyme, these devices enhance the auditory qualities of poetry and prose.
5. What is the antonym of assonance?
The antonym of assonance could be considered “dissonance” or “vowel variety,” where vowel sounds are intentionally varied to create tension, contrast, or a jarring effect in poetry or prose.
6. How do you identify assonance in a poem?
To identify assonance, read the poem aloud and listen for repeated vowel sounds in nearby words. Focus on how the repetition affects the mood, rhythm, and flow of the text. Tools like an assonance checker or a careful phonetic reading can help highlight patterns.
7. Is assonance a figure of speech or a literary device?
Assonance is a literary device and a type of figurative language. While it manipulates the sound rather than the literal meaning of words, it is an intentional technique used to enhance the auditory quality and emotional impact of writing.
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