ALLITERATION

Alliteration is the repetition of an initial consonant sound (there should be at least two repetitions in a row). Many expressions and tongue twisters rely on alliteration.

One example of an alliteration is: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. This is an example of alliteration because the first letter, p, is a consonant and it is repeated many times.

Let's see if we can identify the alliteration in these sentences.

1. Puny puma pit their skills against zebras.

2. Pretty Polly picked pears for preserves.

3. Handsome Harry hired hundreds of hippos for Hanukkah.

Nice work. Now see if you can finish the following sentences with alliterative words.

4. Doodling daughters __________________________________________.

5. Prickly pears _______________________________________________.

6. Studious students ____________________________________________.

7. Sunny skies ________________________________________________.

Wow, you're doing great. How about an alliteration alphabet game. Work around the room letter by letter. Starting with "A" each person has to come up with a sentence containing alliteration. See if you can make it through the entire alphabet. Start with something like:

First Person • Anna A. Abcoke ate anchovies and artichokes.

Next Person • Bertha Bartholomew blew big, blue bubbles.

etc....

Last Person • Zany zebras zip through Zimbabwe.

ALLITERATION IN POETRY

Alliteration is one of the poet's most important sound techniques. It makes particular words stand out. It also connects the words to be emphasized. Look for the repeated consonant sounds in this poem: 

Then up and spake an old sailor,
Had sailed to the Spanish Main,

"I pray thee, put into yonder port,
For I fear a hurricane."

by Henry W. Longfellow, "The Wreck of Hesperus"

 

Often the sounds and meanings of the words combine to create a mood. Here, repetition of b and t stresses a feeling of urgency. 

Hear the loud alarum bells - Brazen bells!
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!

by Edgar Allen Poe, "The Bells"

 

What consonant sounds are repeated in the following lines? 

Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home.

-Traditional Spiritual

 

Do you think that you've got a grasp on alliteration? Great! Try this quiz.

Alliteration in Music

You can find examples of alliteration in music, too. For example, Pink Floyd's "Time" illustrates various poetic devices and significant sound effects which enhance the meaning of the lyrics.

Listen to the song and read the lyrics. Identify examples of alliteration. Why are they effective?

 Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way 

Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long a
And there is time to kill today
And then the one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run,
You missed the starting gun 

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
And racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
And shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter,
Never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught
Or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way
The time is gone
The song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells

 

 Working with a partner, discuss each of these questions. Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the class.

1. What is the meaning of the alarm clocks ringing/ticking at the beginning of the song? How are they an example of alliteration. What other examples of alliteration did you find?

2. How do the concepts of alliteration and boredom go toghether in this song?

3. How does the song compare life to a race. Is it an effective metaphor?

4. Carpe diem means seize the day. What does that expression mean? Does the song make you want to carpe diem?

Hope you're inspired because now it's time for you to create an original poem using the technique of alliteration.

  1. Select a theme/topic.
  2. Think of images, descriptive words, and figurative language that best describes your topic.
  3. Jot them down in web form or in a list as you think of them.
  4. Turn your ideas into a paragraph or paragraphs.
  5. Go back and break the paragraph into lines. As you do this, revise the lines until they look, feel, and sound right to you. Draft, revise, and edit.
  6. Now, for the real test, read it ALOUD. Does it really paint a clear picture?
  7. Share your poem with someone else. Listen to his or her critique of your poem. A critique is when someone tells you the strengths and weaknesses of your work. DON'T GET MAD, LISTEN to the suggestions. Revise your work. Remember, the BEST writers are REWRITERS!
  8. Give your poem a title.
  9. Type and choose a font that adds to the look of your poem.
  10. Illustrate your poem.

Have you alliterated enough for one day? How about relaxing with the Wizards and Pigs game.

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