Consonance

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Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words, whether at the beginning, middle, or end. These echoes can link words, draw attention to a passage, or help suggest a mood.

Ways consonance shows up

Soft, flowing echoes

Repeated sounds such as s or f can give a passage a whispering or flowing quality. Their effect depends on what is happening around them.

In The Raven, repeated s sounds accompany the rustling curtain as the speaker grows frightened by the noises around him.

In The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Firm, striking echoes

Repeated sounds such as b, d, or t can give words a firm beat. They may make a passage feel forceful, playful, or tense.

In Macbeth, repeated b sounds run through the witches’ chant as they gather around the bubbling cauldron.

In Macbeth by William Shakespeare

How to spot consonance

Read a short passage aloud and listen for returning consonant sounds.
Check the middles and ends of words as well as their beginnings.
Consider how the repeated sounds fit the scene or mood.

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What is the difference between consonance and alliteration?

Consonance repeats consonant sounds anywhere in nearby words, while alliteration usually repeats sounds at the beginnings of nearby stressed syllables. The terms can overlap: repeated opening consonants may count as both. Consonance also includes echoes within words and at their ends.

Is consonance the same as rhyme?

Consonance is not the same as rhyme, though both involve repeated sounds. Full rhyme matches a stressed vowel and the sounds that follow it. Consonance needs only a repeated consonant sound, so words such as blank and think share consonance without fully rhyming.