The Use of Sounds in Poetry

Jacob KoblerShane Nelson

Megan Schonhar

English IV

25 March 2013

Types

0There are many different types of sound techniques in poetry. 0 Alliteration0 Assonance0 Cacophony0 Rhyme0 Onomatopoeia0 Rhythm

0These are just a few of the MANY options you have when writing poetry or music.

Alliteration

0This is also known as “head rhyme” or “initial rhyme” because it is the repetition of the initial sound in a word.

0Most of the time, the repeated letter is a consonant.0The words do not have to be next to each other.0Usually takes at leas three consecutive words in a

sentence to be considered alliteration. 0 It is used to emphasize key words in a line.0Ex. She sells sea shells by the sea shore

Assonance

0The repetition of vowel sounds.0Creates internal rhyming.0Has the same effect as alliteration.0Ex. “… the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple

curtain…” (Edgar Allan Poe, “The Raven”).

Cacophony

0Using unpleasant spoken sounds created by clashing consonants.

0Words that combine sharp, harsh, hissing or annoying sounds.

0Used to stir up discord, and cause the feeling of being lost.

0Ex. “’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.” (Lewis Carroll, “Jabberwocky”).

Rhyme

0Utilizes the same accent ending vowel sound. 0The starting consonant must be different. 0Different types; perfect rhyme and near rhyme

0 Perfect rhyme: when words rhyme exactly. Ex. Go, show, flow, Joe.

0 Near rhyme: two words that have only their final consonant sounds and no preceding vowel or consonant sound in common. Ex. Stopped and wept.

Onomatopoeia

0Words that are used as immediate sounds. 0Used for imagery0Adds sound to words. 0Ex. BAM. BOOM. POW!0Ex. Snap, Crackle, Pop.

Rhythm

0A crucial piece of most poetry. 0The regular or progressive pattern of recurrent

accents in the flow of a line. 0 It is basically the flow and pattern of the poem. 0Could use rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia or any

other method to accomplish its thesis/goal.