Do you know that using assonance figure of speech can make your writing attractive? Yes, it is true. But why is it important? The answer is to create a flow within your sentence. Besides this, by using assonance, you can create engaging content that the reader likes to read, and every writer wants that, right?
However, you may find it tricky to use assonance, but just like adverbs, assonance also has some basic rules that can help you understand how to use it correctly. Hence, this blog contains a definition, an example, usage, and a worksheet on assonance. Read on to enhance your knowledge and make your writing appealing.
Table of Contents
Before learning anything, you must know the basic meaning of the term. Hence, let’s understand what assonance is. In simple words, it refers to words with similar vowel echoes repeatedly. Now, to make it easier, let’s read the assonance definition that is mentioned in the Oxford dictionary.
“The occurrence of the same vowel sound in nearby words, but with different consonants” is the assonance figure of speech. However, you can observe different definitions in other dictionaries with the same conclusion: repetition of vowels to evoke emotions by creating a rhythmic effect. See the example of figure of speech assonance below for a better understanding:
This example showcases the assonance figure of speech by stressing the vowel “a” in Rain and Spain.
Besides this, it has a few more characteristics that help writers use it correctly. The paragraph below explains these features.
The figure of speech is crucial to add creativity and depth to your language. However, to form correct sentences, you should know about the characteristics of assonance. It will help you use the right assonance based on the sentences structure requirements.
Therefore, below are the key features of the assonance figure of speech that you should read to better understand their placement in your sentences.
The key feature of assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. Now, by this, we don't mean to use the same letter, but you should use words that sound similar. Such as dips and chips; in this, the vowel "I" sounds the same. Also, it is crucial because this repetition created by assonance can enhance writing skills.
Another important feature of assonance is the proximity between the words that you are using as assonance. Proximity is crucial because the recurrence of vowel words needs to be close to create the evident auditory effect. Moreover, this closeness helps to emphasise the meaning of words used within the sentence. Besides this, it helps to create a link between the words and make them more cohesive.
Musicality is also one of the key characteristics of the assonance figure of speech that you will observe while using it in a sentence. It is crucial because musicality enhances the text's flow, rhythm, and audio effect. Also, they create an appealing sound pattern, which can create more engaging content.
But how will you use them? Are you confused? Don't worry; read below and find out how you can use them to frame correct sentences.
Having stumbled upon a basic understanding of Assonance, meaning, and examples, you may assume that using rhyming words within clauses or sentences is Assonance. But do you know this is not the right way to use Assonance? Now, you must be wondering how it should be used.
The answer is that Assonance is concerned with the recurrence of similar vowel echoes within the syllables of a specific word. Moreover, it is not concerned with the placement of these words in the sentence, so you are free to place them according to your preference. Hence, the key rule is to use words with the same syllables in a sentence, but not necessarily in a sequence.
Although you have learned the rule of using this figure of speech, you must read a few examples for better understanding. Thus, read the Assonance examples sentences that are given below.
While this figure of speech is commonly used in poetry and songs, you can notice this literary device almost everywhere, including your daily language. It is because it’s easy to remember and catches the reader’s attention.
Below are examples of assonance figures of speech based on poetry, literature, songs, and everyday speech.
Many poets use assonance in their poems because it creates rhythm in the texts and produces a musical tone within the poem. Also, the repetitive sound of the vowel allows the reader to read the poem in a more memorable tone. For instance:
In the above sentence, you can see the repetition of “e” in beside, beneath, trees, and breeze.
It is used in literature to create focus on specific ideas or words and evoke a precise tone or mood. Further, assonance helps the reader focus on essential elements within the story or literature. For example,
This sentence includes tender, heir, bear and memory, which sound similar and contain “e” vowels to produce the same sounds.
You can see assonance in everyday speech as well, intentionally or unintentionally; many people use it in their routine language. Such as,
In this, you can see time matches with the flies and stresses on the vowel “I”.
The singers try to make songs by using assonance to create a rhythmic sound within the songs. Also, by using them, singers can create a long-lasting impression among the listeners and make themselves extraordinary. For instance:
In this song, you can observe that the words eye, tiger, fighter and fire are making similar sound effects and creating a rhythmic tone.
Until now, you have learned about the assonance definition and examples and how to use them within sentences. Thus, to check your memory, below is a worksheet of assonance. Check it out.
Now that you have better understood how to use assonance, below is an exercise you must try to figure out your knowledge about this literary device. The assonance produces the same sound by repeating the same words. Don’t forget to keep this in mind while answering the questions.
Questions
Fill in the blank with a word that matches the vowel sound of the bold words in each sentence.
1. The rain, Spain, and _______ are all soaked.
2. We dreamed, we screamed, and we _______.
3. He rode, he chose, then he _______.
4. Light, sight, and _______ filled the night.
5. The cat on the mat chased a _______.
6. The beetle was in the needle and the _______.
7. Green, seen, and _______ are calm colors.
8. The moose on the loose found a _______.
9. He was bold, cold, and _______.
10. The clown fell down near the _______.
Answers
1. Spain
It matches with “rain” and focuses on the vowel “a”.
2. Dreamed
It matches with “beamed” and focuses on the vowel “e”.
3. Rode
It matches with “chose” and focuses on the vowel “o”.
4. Sight
It matches with “light” and focuses on the vowel “i”.
5. Cat
It matches with “rat” and focuses on the vowel “a”.
6. Beetle
It matches with “beagle” and focuses on the vowel “e”.
7. Seen
It matches with “green” and focuses on the vowel “e”.
8. Moose
It matches with “goose” and focuses on the vowel “oo”.
9. Cold
It matches with “old” and focuses on the vowel “o”.
10. Clown
It matches with “town” and focuses on the vowel “ow”.
To sum up, the assonance figure of speech is as vital as adjectives or verbs. Moreover, you can improve your overall English writing by learning about this figure of speech. Specifically, if you desire to write poetry, then assonance is the perfect literary device to evoke emotions within the poems. Hence, this blog explained assonance's meaning and usage.
However, if you require detailed information about assonance, you can connect with our study experts on Gradding.com. They will offer you expert tips to make your learning easy and engaging. Connect now!
1. What is assonance with examples?
Assonance is the repetition of words with vowel sounds, and these words are placed at a similar distance in a sentence to create a rhythmic sound. A few examples of assonance are:
2. When is assonance used?
Assonance is mainly used to create rhythm in writing because it provides a similar effect to rhyming, which makes poetry or literature more engaging.
3. What is the key rule of using assonance?
The key rule is to place similar vowel words at a specific distance instead of putting them directly next to each other. You can use the same vowel words at the start or end of the sentence to create a tone.
4. Is assonance a poetic device?
Yes, assonance is a poetic device that involves the repetition of words that contain vowel sounds by placing them at a specific distance to create a rhythmic effect.
5. Does assonance affect the audience?
Yes, assonance affects your audience by evoking emotion through repetitive sounds and creating an echo that highlights the feelings you wish to express.
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