Alliteration: Definition and Examples

Alliteration

Definition:

Alliteration is a literary device in which the same consonant sound is repeated at the beginning of closely placed or adjacent words in a single statement or line.

Explanation:

It is mainly used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, musical effect, emphasis, or mood. By repeating initial sounds, writers draw attention to particular phrases, enhance memorability, and sometimes imitate natural sounds. Alliteration does not depend on spelling but on sound. For example, 'cat' and 'kite' do not alliterate, but 'cat' and 'kind' do, because of the /k/ sound.

Examples from Literature:

·       William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet:
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes.”
(Repetition of the /f/ sound adds emphasis to fate and feud)

·       Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven:
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing.”
(Repetition of /d/ creates a haunting rhythm)

In short, Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words, used for musicality, emphasis, and aesthetic effect in literature.