The Raven – Almost An Author

Consonance: The Sound of Poetry II

How you create sound in your poetry will make it bloom or wilt. The whole purpose of a poem is to artistically express a message in a succinct, powerful way. Sound devices, such as consonance, add musical qualities—key elements that accomplish this.

Since we’ve recently explored alliteration, it would be best to distinguish its sibling, which also makes use of repeating consonant sounds.

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Closer than a Brother

Consonance is a sound device in which many of the words in close proximity (in the same line) repeat the same consonant sound. Remember that alliteration is unique because it only emphasizes the first sounds of words. Consonance allows for the sound to be repeated anywhere within the words or phrases.

As with alliteration, consonance adds a musical element to the poem and creates a smooth-flowing rhythm.

Let’s look at a few more lines from Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem “The Raven” again to understand how it works.

“And the silken, sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain”

In the above lines, the poet repeats the “s” sound even in the words that don’t begin with that letter. The resulting sounds harmonize, creating a musical effect. Not only are the sounds repeated throughout the line, but the word “uncertain” also rhymes with “curtain.” Both devices create a beautiful streak of sounds that easily roll off your tongue.

A few stanzas later, he uses consonance again.

“Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted”

Poe could have chosen any number of words to communicate the same meaning. However, each word has a purpose. Notice how and where the “d” sound is repeated—the beginning, middle and ends of several words in this line. Again, the sound repetition enhances the rhythm of the poem.

It simply sounds nice. Doesn’t it?

Working Together

Because alliteration and consonance are so closely related, the poet uses both at the same time. But don’t fret over which technique you are using to create pleasant sounds in your poems. If you are aware of the devices, then you can consciously incorporate them into your work.

Remember that all poetic techniques usually work together rather than in isolation to create the most effective poems. You probably recognized other sound devices in those lines, such the internal rhyme. We’ll explore other musical elements like this in future posts.

Now that you have a grasp on alliteration and consonance, see if you can work it into your own poems. If you have any questions, ask me below.

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Alliteration: The Sound of Poetry I

One unique attribute of poetry is the way it sounds. Using special techniques, such as alliteration, can bring your poems to life and add musical beauty.

In this series I’m going to explain the different ways you can create sound effects in your poems and why you might want to do that. I’ll be using Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem “The Raven” as an example. This piece contains multiple sound devices that work harmoniously together to create a musical masterpiece.

Sweet Sounds of Similarity

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds. In other words, the beginning sounds of certain words close together are the same. Note that the sound of the word’s first letter is important, not the letter itself. For instance, salad and celery are examples of this sound device even though they don’t start with the same letter.

Note: Typically this device is recognized as the repetition of consonant sounds only. Yet some sources may disagree as to whether alliteration also includes words that begin with the same vowel sound.

Regardless, Alliteration is important because it creates rhythm and is pleasing to the ear. In other words, it adds a musical element to poetry and even helps with memorization.

Consider your favorite song on the radio. I’ll bet you will find alliteration all over the lyrics if you listen closely next time.

The Difference One Device Can Make

Paying attention to the sounds you use in your poetry is essential. You should always select every word with a purpose in mind.

Read the following line from “The Raven” and my revised version. Listen to the difference in each:

“While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping” (original)

“While I rested, almost asleep, suddenly there came a tapping” (revised)

The first sentence is the way Poe originally wrote the line. Notice how the repeated “n” sounds add a pleasant sound as they roll out of your mouth. It’s actually more difficult on your tongue to read the second sentence. And it doesn’t sound nearly as nice as the original.

Here’s another example:

“Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken” (original)

“Upset at the quiet broken by reply so aptly expressed” (revised)

In both of these examples, the meaning is approximately the same, but the effect is dramatically different. Again, the alliterated words in the original line create a beautiful, memorable sound by adding a smooth rhythm to the poem.

And did you notice that alliteration is not used in isolation?

Generally sound devices enhance each other to create the ultimate effect on the reader. Throughout his poem, Poe uses alliteration along with multiple other techniques and devices, which we will explore in future posts.

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Can You Use It?

Now, find a poem you’ve already written, or challenge yourself to write a new one. Examine each line carefully and try to see where you could use alliteration. A thesaurus is very helpful for finding synonyms. Just be sure to only use words that you know well and fit the context of your poem.

Do you have any questions or suggestions for using this sound device? Share them below.