Alliteration

文学用語・発音を確認します uh-lit-uh-RAY-shun

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the start of nearby words, especially stressed words. It can draw attention to a phrase, give it rhythm, or strengthen its mood.

Where alliteration shows up

Alliteration that strengthens mood

Repeated starting sounds can reinforce a passage’s feeling. Soft sounds may suit a quiet scene, while sharp sounds may suggest tension.

At the opening of The Raven, a tired reader sits over old books late at night. Repeated w sounds in the description of his weakness and weariness reinforce the sleepy mood.

In The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Alliteration that emphasizes movement

Repeated starting sounds can give a description a strong beat. This can make movement feel especially noticeable.

In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the ship sails briskly onward before it enters a silent sea. Repeated b sounds accompany the blowing breeze, giving the ship’s progress a lively beat.

In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

How to spot alliteration

Read a short passage aloud.
Listen for the same consonant sound at the start of nearby words.
Notice whether those sounds emphasize a mood, movement, or important phrase.

3か月間無料でご利用いただけます

200,000+の古典を、すべての形式で無料から楽しめます。

電子書籍、オーディオブック、15分で読める要約を楽しめます。どの本も紙の本や大活字本として、印刷費のみで購入できます。

無料で始めます本日のお支払いはありません。初年度は一日あたりUSD 0.14、その後は一日あたりUSD 0.27です。

Does alliteration depend on letters or sounds?

Alliteration depends on sounds, not spelling. Words beginning with different letters can alliterate if their opening consonant sounds match, as in cat and kitten. Words beginning with the same letter may not alliterate, as in city and cat.

What is the difference between alliteration, assonance, and consonance?

Alliteration repeats starting consonant sounds, assonance repeats vowel sounds, and consonance repeats consonant sounds anywhere in words. The terms can overlap: a phrase with repeated starting consonants can show both alliteration and consonance. Listen for where the repeated sound occurs.