Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance

Which statement best defines alliteration?

• The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

• The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words.

• The repetition of consonant sounds at the end of words.

• A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Answer explanation

Alliteration is the use of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words that are close together. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds, and consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.

Which sentence contains the clearest example of assonance?

• The curious cat crept quietly toward the corner.

• Mike's bike has bright white stripes.

• The wind whistled wildly through the willows.

• He struck a streak of bad luck.

Answer explanation

This sentence repeats the long 'i' vowel sound in 'Mike's,' 'bike,' 'white,' and 'stripes,' which is an example of assonance. The other options primarily show alliteration or consonance.

Match each literary device to its correct definition.

• Repetition of the same consonant sound within or at the end of words.

• Alliteration

• Repetition of the same beginning consonant sound in a phrase.

• Assonance

• Repetition of the same vowel sound within words in a phrase.

• Consonance

Answer explanation

Each term is matched to its specific definition. Alliteration is about initial consonants, assonance is about internal vowels, and consonance is about internal or final consonants.

Sort each phrase into the category of the sound device it uses: Alliteration, Assonance, or Consonance.

Groups:

(a) Alliteration

,

(b) Assonance

,

(c) Consonance

• Mike will bike to the finish line.

• A slimy snake slithered.

• Dangerous Dan doesn't dare.

• First and last, the cat sat.

• The cool blue moon.

• He stood on the road and cried.

Answer explanation

Phrases are sorted based on their dominant sound device. Alliteration repeats initial consonants (s, d), Assonance repeats vowel sounds (oo, oa/ie), and Consonance repeats internal/final consonants (k, t).

Match each example to the sound device it demonstrates.

• Assonance

• Toss the glass, boss.

• Consonance

• The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.

• Alliteration

• The big bug bit the little beetle.

Answer explanation

'The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain' demonstrates assonance through the repetition of the long 'a' vowel sound. 'The big bug bit the little beetle' is an example of alliteration, with the repetition of the initial 'b' consonant sound. 'Toss the glass, boss' shows consonance by repeating the final 's' consonant sound.

How is consonance different from alliteration?

• Consonance repeats vowel sounds, while alliteration repeats consonant sounds.

• Consonance repeats consonant sounds in the middle or end of words, while alliteration is only at the beginning.

• There is no difference; they are the same thing.

• Consonance is used in poetry, while alliteration is used in prose.

Answer explanation

The key difference is the position of the repeated sound. Alliteration occurs at the start of words, whereas consonance typically occurs in the middle or at the end of words.

Sort these phrases based on the type of sound being repeated: Repeated Vowel Sound (Assonance) or Repeated Consonant Sound (Alliteration/Consonance).

Groups:

(a) Repeated Vowel Sound (Assonance)

,

(b) Repeated Consonant Sound (Alliteration/Consonance)

• The sly snake slinks slowly.

• A black cat sat on the mat.

• Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese.

• Carrie's cat clawed the couch.

• He gave a nod to the officer on the rock.

Answer explanation

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. 'Fleet feet' and 'sleeping geese' repeat the long 'ee' sound, 'black cat sat on the mat' repeats the short 'a' sound, and 'nod,' 'officer,' and 'rock' repeat the short 'o' sound. Alliteration and consonance involve repeated consonant sounds. 'Sly snake slinks slowly' repeats the 's' sound at the beginning of words (alliteration), and 'Carrie's cat clawed' repeats the 'k' sound (alliteration).

Match each sentence to the primary sound device it employs.

• Assonance

• Some mammals are clammy.

• Alliteration

• The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew.

• Consonance

• Paula's pet parrot speaks perfectly.

Answer explanation

'The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew' is an example of assonance, repeating the vowel sounds in 'breeze' and 'flew'. 'Some mammals are clammy' demonstrates consonance by repeating the 'm' consonant sound within the words. 'Paula's pet parrot speaks perfectly' is a clear example of alliteration, with the repetition of the initial 'p' sound.

Read the line: 'Her strong string broke.' Which sound device is featured?

• Alliteration, because of the 's' sound.

• Assonance, because of the 'o' sound.

• Consonance, because of the 'str' and 'ng' sounds.

• Simile, because it compares two things.

Answer explanation

The repetition of the 'str' blend and the 'ng' sound within 'strong' and 'string' is a clear example of consonance. It is not alliteration because the repeated sounds are not all at the very beginning.

Sort these famous lines into the correct literary device category: Alliteration, Assonance, or Consonance.

Groups:

(a) Alliteration

,

(b) Assonance

,

(c) Consonance

• Hear the mellow wedding bells.

• Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.

• The uncertain rustling of each purple curtain.

• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Answer explanation

Lines are sorted by their most prominent device. 'Dreaming dreams' and 'Peter Piper' use alliteration. 'Mellow wedding bells' uses the short 'e' assonance. 'Uncertain rustling' uses the 'r' and 's' consonance.