Today kicks off the Blogging A to Z challenge and I’m going to write about one of my favorite literary terms: alliteration.
As defined by the All American Glossary of Literary terms, alliteration is a pattern of sound that includes the repetition of consonant sounds. The repetition can be located at the beginning of successive words or inside the words.
I love alliteration because I listen to what I write in my head. As I write words I pronounce them silently. Maybe everybody does this? Not sure, but alliteration comes naturally to me because I like the rhythm it produces. I like the sound of alliteration.
One of my favorite examples of alliteration at the beginning of successive words is “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” (Henry David Thoreau, Walden). Fantastic!
As illustrated in the example above, alliteration is often used by poets to emphasize a point or call attention to a phrase.
We took our cat on family vacation to the beach recently (yeah, our cat) and he had the time of his life. He had so much fun that I wrote this poem from his point of view, Cool Cat on Vacation. While I am by no means a poet, this is one of my favorite poems because of the alleration and because it’s about our cat.
Assorted alliteration in a poem appeals to me on a primal level.
Now you give it a try...
Love the topic and the poem. I couldn't get a comment in, but I adore cool cat.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to think of a clever alliterative comment, but I'm coming up short. Love Cool Cat. Good luck with A to Z!
ReplyDeleteMy comment wouldn't post before, but I just loved this entry! I did mine on allusions!
ReplyDeleteGreat work Langley!
ReplyDeleteI loved this Langley. Great job and start to the challenge!
ReplyDeleteNice post. I'll be back to checkout what you've got for B.
ReplyDeleteregards
Mood
Langley, alliteration is a very writerly way to start out the blog challenge. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps I should be saying 'Jaunty job!' 'Joyous job!' 'Judicious job!'
Ack. Yes, I'll stop.
Happy April!
I think I use alliteration naturally without even knowing what it is! I like the sound of it too and I'm sure it's evident in a lot of my work. Does that make me a literate alliterate?
ReplyDeleteI like you, love alliteration.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know I'm not the only one who loves alliteration :) I particularly love alliterative names, and find myself using them in my writing a lot. You're right, there is just something about the rhythm of alliterative words that just sounds right.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree alliteration can really evoke a great mood in a poem. :O)
ReplyDeleteI too am a fan of alliteration. It can truly be said that it is to some writers a great sensation. But let us not forget Iambic Pentameter, it too is style of writing for which many writers clamor! Shakespeare himself was quite a fan of it, in his writings you can find quite a bit. Mostly in one of his sonnets, you can see its influence upon it. While I digress, I must confess that when it comes to blogs I like Langley Writes the best!!
ReplyDeleteCan you see me raising my hand. I'm a fan of alliteration too.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Langley...I too love alliteration! This is a great way to start the challenge...
ReplyDeleteLynette
Imagination Lane
I love alliteration too! Nice post.
ReplyDelete