Literary Term - Consonance

 

Literary Term

Consonance 

Consonance is a literary device that involves the repetition of consonant sounds, specifically in close proximity or at the end of words within a phrase or sentence. Unlike alliteration, which involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds, consonance can occur with consonants at any position in the words.

Consonance is often used to create a musical or harmonious effect in language. It can add a sense of rhythm and melody to a piece of writing, contributing to its overall sound and tone. Writers and poets use consonance for various reasons, including to evoke a certain mood, emphasize certain words or ideas, and enhance the auditory experience of the reader.

Here's a simple example of consonance:

"The wind blended with the sand as it whispered across the land."

In this example, the repetition of the "nd" sound in "wind," "blended," and "land" creates a harmonious and musical quality to the sentence.

 

Examples of Consonance in Everyday Speech

Busy as a Bee:

The repetition of the "b" sound in "busy" and "bee" creates a harmonious effect.

 

Blanket of Blue:

The repetition of the "b" sound in "blanket" and "blue" contributes to a pleasing sound.

 

Fish and Chips:

The repetition of the "sh" sound in "fish" and "chips" adds a rhythmic quality to the phrase.

 

Best in Show:

The repetition of the "st" sound in "best" and "show" creates a memorable and rhythmic expression.

 

He kissed her softly:

The repetition of the "s" sound in "kissed" and "softly" gives the statement a smooth and melodious quality.

 

Whispering Willows:

The repetition of the "w" sound in "whispering" and "willows" adds a gentle and soothing effect.

 

Tender Thunder:

The repetition of the "t" sound in "tender" and "thunder" creates a rhythmic and alliterative quality.

 

Pitter-Patter of Rain:

The repetition of the "t" and "r" sounds in "pitter-patter" and "rain" mimics the sound of raindrops.

 

Giggling Girls:

The repetition of the "g" sound in "giggling" and "girls" contributes to a lighthearted and playful tone.

 

Walking in the Woods:

The repetition of the "w" and "d" sounds in "walking" and "woods" adds a rhythmic quality to the expression.

 

These examples demonstrate how consonance naturally occurs in everyday language, contributing to the musicality and expressiveness of speech.

 

Consonance in “Tongue Twisters”

Tongue twisters are a playful form of language that often feature alliteration and consonance to create phrases that are challenging to pronounce quickly and accurately. Here are a few tongue twisters that showcase consonance:

 

She sells seashells by the seashore,

The repetition of the "s" sound throughout this tongue twister creates a challenging pattern for the speaker.

 

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

The repetition of the "p" sound is a classic example of alliteration and consonance in a tongue twister.

 

How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?

The repetition of the "c" and "m" sounds contributes to the difficulty of articulating this phrase rapidly.

 

Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter’s bitter.

The repetition of the "b" and "t" sounds, especially in the words "butter" and "bitter," adds a challenging element to this tongue twister.

 

A black bug bleeds black blood, what color blood does a blue bug bleed?

The repetition of the "b" and "d" sounds creates a complex pattern in this tongue twister.

 

Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.

The repetition of the "s" sound makes this tongue twister tricky to enunciate quickly.

 

Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread.

The repetition of the "f" and "d" sounds contributes to the challenge of this tongue twister.

 

Larry sent the latter a letter later.

The repetition of the "l" sound in "Larry," "latter," and "letter" adds a consonant challenge.

 

These tongue twisters showcase how consonance, particularly the repetition of specific consonant sounds, is used to create linguistic obstacles and amusement.

 

Consonance in Fictional Character Names

Consonance is often employed in the creation of fictional character names to give them a memorable and harmonious quality. Here are some examples:

 

Bilbo Baggins (from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit"):

The repetition of the "b" and "g" sounds in Bilbo Baggins contributes to the whimsical and rhythmic quality of the character's name.

 

Sherlock Holmes (from Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories):

The repetition of the "s," "l," and "k" sounds in Sherlock Holmes gives the character's name a distinctive and memorable cadence.

 

Holly Golightly (from Truman Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's"):

The repetition of the "l" and "t" sounds in Holly Golightly creates a melodic and elegant quality in the character's name.

 

Rubeus Hagrid (from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series):

The repetition of the "r" and "g" sounds in Rubeus Hagrid adds a rugged and hearty feel to the character's name.

 

Jay Gatsby (from F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"):

The repetition of the "g" and "t" sounds in Jay Gatsby gives the name a smooth and sophisticated sound.

 

Willy Wonka (from Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"):

The repetition of the "w" and "l" sounds in Willy Wonka contributes to the playful and whimsical nature of the character's name.

 

Gollum (from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"):

The repetition of the "l" and "m" sounds in Gollum adds a sinister and eerie quality to the character's name.

 

Holden Caulfield (from J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye"):

The repetition of the "l" and "d" sounds in Holden Caulfield gives the character's name a distinctive and rhythmic flow.

 

These examples demonstrate how consonance is used in fictional character names to create a particular tone or evoke a specific atmosphere associated with the character.

 

Difference Between Consonance, Alliteration, and Assonance

Consonance, alliteration, and assonance are all literary devices that involve the repetition of sounds, particularly consonant or vowel sounds, in close proximity. However, they differ in the specific elements they repeat and how they contribute to the overall effect of language.

 

Consonance:

Definition: Consonance involves the repetition of consonant sounds, either at the beginning, middle, or end of words, within a sentence or phrase.

Example: "She sells seashells by the seashore." (Repetition of the "s" and "sh" sounds)

 

Alliteration:

Definition: Alliteration specifically refers to the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." (Repetition of the "p" sound)

 

Assonance:

Definition: Assonance involves the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words, but without the repetition of consonants.

Example: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain." (Repetition of the long "a" sound)

 

Key Differences:

 

Sound Elements:

Consonance focuses on the repetition of consonant sounds.

Alliteration specifically involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds.

Assonance centers around the repetition of vowel sounds.

 

Location of Repetition:

Consonance can involve repetition of consonant sounds anywhere in a word.

Alliteration specifically occurs at the beginning of words.

Assonance involves repetition of vowel sounds within words, regardless of their position.

 

Effect on Language:

Consonance contributes to the musicality and harmony of language.

Alliteration emphasizes rhythm, creates a memorable quality, and is often used for poetic effect.

Assonance adds a melodic quality to language and is commonly used in poetry for its rhythmic effect.

 

In summary, while all three literary devices involve the repetition of sounds, consonance focuses on consonants, alliteration specifically involves initial consonant sounds, and assonance centers around the repetition of vowel sounds. Each contributes to the overall sound, rhythm, and tone of language in distinct ways.

 

Examples of Consonance in Literature

Consonance is a literary device often used to create musicality and harmony in language. Here are some examples of consonance in literature:

 

William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud":

"Ten thousand saw I at a glance," - The repetition of the "s" sound contributes to a smooth and flowing rhythm in this line.

 

Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven":

"But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token..." - The repetition of the "s" and "l" sounds creates a sense of quiet and eerie stillness.

 

Emily Dickinson, "Because I could not stop for Death":

"We paused before a House that seemed / A Swelling of the Ground—," - The repetition of the "s" sound adds a soft and hushed quality to these lines.

 

Langston Hughes, "Dreams":

"Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly." - The repetition of the "d" sound in "dreams" and "die" creates a rhythmic and memorable effect.

 

Robert Frost, "Acquainted with the Night":

"I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet" - The repetition of the "s" sound contributes to the quiet and contemplative mood of the poem.

 

John Keats, "Ode to a Nightingale":

"Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness," - The repetition of the "s" and "d" sounds adds a soft and serene quality to these lines.

 

T.S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock":

"Let us go then, you and I, / When the evening is spread out against the sky" - The repetition of the "s" sound enhances the smooth and contemplative tone of these lines.

 

Shakespeare, "Sonnet 18" ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"):

"Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May," - The repetition of the "d" sound adds a delicate and gentle quality to this line.

 

These examples illustrate how consonance is used by poets to enhance the auditory experience of their works, creating a sense of rhythm, musicality, and mood.