Using Assonance

Let’s forget about the weather today and jump into our topic – assonance. First, what is it? Assonance is the use of repetitive vowel sounds in nearby words. The example above focuses on the “ee” sound. Consonants vary, but the vowel sounds repeat in several of the words. Neither do the words need to rhyme, although they may. Think, “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.” Assonance comes from the Latin word, assonare, meaning to answer with the same sound.

Often used as a poetic device, it is used in prose as well to draw attention to the primary subject of the phrase or sentence. Poetry? Well, how about Emily Dickinson’s Mayflower?

Pink, small, and punctual
Aromatic, low.
Covert in April,
Candid in May,
Dear to the moss,
Known by the Knoll. . .

. . . Bedecked with thee,
Nature Forswears
Antiquity

So use assonance to emphasize your points. You can always use a thesaurus to find synonyms to add some some lyrical flair to your prose or poetry.

Just a few thoughts to experiment with. Let me know how it works for you. See you in a week!

WFK