choose five examples of sound device usage - define the term and discuss how it enhances the meaning of the poem.

Question

Please note - do NOT offer discussions about “Rhyme” Mad Girl's Love Song by sylvia plath

Answer 1

1. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words. In the poem "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe, the repeated use of the letter "b" in phrases like "the tinkle of the bells" and "the moaning and the groaning of the bells" creates a musical and rhythmic quality that mimics the sound of bells ringing. This enhances the poem's theme of the passage of time and the inevitability of death, creating a haunting and unsettling mood.

2. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in neighboring words. In Langston Hughes' poem "Dreams," the repeated long "e" sound in phrases like "Hold fast to dreams" and "Life is a broken-winged bird" creates a sense of unity and cohesion in the poem. This reinforces the idea that dreams are an integral part of life and should be held onto, no matter how challenging circumstances may be.

3. Onomatopoeia: Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. In e.e. cummings' poem "buffalo bill's defunct," the line "and what i want to know is / how do you like your blue-eyed boy / Mister Death" uses the word "defunct" to mimic the sound of something falling or collapsing. This enhances the poem's theme of mortality and the passing of time, creating a sense of finality and inevitability.

4. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in neighboring words. In W.B. Yeats' poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," the repeated "s" sound in phrases like "the loud and the deep" and "sounds of the island" creates a soothing and peaceful atmosphere that reflects the speaker's desire for a simple and tranquil life on the island of Innisfree. This reinforces the poem's theme of nature as a source of solace and rejuvenation.

5. Repetition: Repetition is the repeated use of words, phrases, or sounds in a poem. In Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise," the repeated refrain "I rise" emphasizes the speaker's resilience and determination to overcome adversity. This repetition adds emphasis and power to the poem's message of empowerment and defiance in the face of oppression.