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What are Sound Devices?

Sound devices are elements in poetry that enhance the poem by emphasizing sound. Poets carefully craft their poems and incorporate as many of these devices as possible to appeal to the reader and emphasize certain sounds.

Alliteration

The word alliteration refers to the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

Example: “The beautiful bouquet blossomed in the bright sunlight.”

Consonance

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in quick succession found at the end or middle of words.

Example: “All’s well that ends well.”

Assonance

Assonance is very similar to consonance. It is the repetition of vowel sounds in quick succession.

Example: “I feel depressed and restless.”

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is defined as a word which imitates or represents the natural sounds of a thing. It makes the description of a thing more interesting and expressive by mimicking the sound of the thing being described.

Example: “The pan fell to the floor with a crash and a bang!”

Rhyme

Rhyming occurs when two or more words have similar (or the same) sounds. Rhyming most often occurs at the ends of lines in poems.

Example: “Twinkle, twinkle little star,

How I wonder what you are.”

Repetition

Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases multiple times.

Example: “I gaze upon the sky;

I gaze at the clouds so high.”

ReviewRead the following passages. Identify the sound

device that is distinguishable from the bolded words/ letters.

“The thunder boomed like a drum in the stormy night.”

Onomatopoeia

ReviewRead the following passages. Identify the sound

device that is distinguishable from the bolded words/ letters.

“I love to look at the beautiful brook.

Rhyme

ReviewRead the following passages. Identify the sound

device that is distinguishable from the bolded words/ letters.

“I love to look at the beautiful brook.

Alliteration

ReviewRead the following passages. Identify the sound device that

is distinguishable from the bolded words/ letters.

“I walk alone in the moonlight I walk alone beneath the stars. I walk alone… I walk alone.

Repetition

ReviewRead the following passages. Identify the sound

device that is distinguishable from the bolded words/ letters.

“In the wind his hair was blown”

Assonance

ReviewRead the following passages. Identify the sound

device that is distinguishable from the bolded words/ letters.

“The bells are ringing, and the birds are singing.”

Rhyme

Conclusion

All of these poetic devices are very commonly used in poetry, and help to add expression to each poem. As you read through poems, see if you can identify these poetic devices!