Alliteration:    Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of a series of words, next to, or near to each other.

 

It is a group of words that use the same letter  (cake, candle)  or letter sound (cake, kite) for effect.

Example 1  From everyday speech:

Tongue twisters are the most common form of alliteration: e.g.

Around the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.

Chester chooses chestnuts, cheddar cheese with chewy chives; he chews them and he      chooses them, he chooses them and he chews them in cheery charming chunks.

 

Example 2  From Newspapers

Alliteration is also popular in newspaper headlines - the repetition catches the eye and encourages the reader to read the article.  e.g.

        TRUDY'S TRULY BETTER LIFE

        LIMPING WIGAN WIN THE WAR

                 (from The Mirror, 12.4.99)

 

Example 3 From literature:

                         What passing-bells for these who die as cattle ?

                        Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

                        Only the stuttering rifle's rapid rattle

                    Can patter out their hasty orisons                                                           

                                        from Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen

 

NOTE:  Look at the way Wilfred Owen uses the repetition of the 'r' sound to mirror the sound of the guns.

 

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