This document defines and provides examples of consonance, assonance, and alliteration. Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds anywhere in a word. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds anywhere in a word. Alliteration is the repetition of any sounds at the beginning of words. The document compares and contrasts these three literary devices used to repeat sounds in language.

1. S
Consonance and
Assonance

2. Consonance Example
S"He thrusts his fists
against the posts and
still insists he sees the
ghosts."

3. Still Not Sure?
S "He thrusts his fists against the posts
and still insists he sees the ghosts."

4. Definition of Consonance
S The repetition of consonant sounds.
What other literary device does this
sound like?

5. It sounds like…Alliteration
What is the difference between the two?
S Consonance Example: "He thrusts his fists against
the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.”
S Alliteration Example: "My father brought to
conversations a cavernous capacity for caring that
dismayed strangers."
(John Updike, The Centaur, 1962)

6. The Difference Is…
S Consonance: The repetition of
CONSONANT sounds ANYWHERE in
a word.
S Alliteration: The repetition of ANY
sounds at the BEGINNING of a word.

7. Assonance Example
Using the example below, write the
definition of assonance on your
group’s white board:
SAnd from all around the haven
the crumbling thunder of seas.

8. Still Not Sure?
S And from all around the haven the
crumbling thunder of seas.

9. Definition of Assonance
S Repetition of vowel sounds
ANYWHERE in the word.

10. Similarities and Differences
S Consonance, Assonance, and Alliteration
S All involve repetition of sounds.
S Consonance involves repetition of CONSONANT sounds
ANYWHERE in the word.
S Assonance involves repetition of VOWEL sounds
ANYWHERE in the word.
S Alliteration involves repetition of ANY sound at the
BEGINNING of a word.