What is the Difference Between Assonance and Alliteration and Consonance?

Assonance, alliteration, and consonance are literary devices that involve the repetition of sounds to create a specific effect or mood in a poem or text. Here are the main differences between these devices:

1. Alliteration: This involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in multiple words. It is easier to identify and creates a more staccato effect, which can be used for harsher emphasis.
2. Assonance: This involves the repetition of vowel sounds in multiple words. Unlike alliteration, which focuses on consonant sounds, assonance centers on the vowel sounds. It is not the same as rhyme, as the consonants differ.
3. Consonance: This involves the repetition of consonant sounds in multiple words. It is a broader category under which alliteration fits. Consonance can appear anywhere in the word, typically at the end, and creates a more melodic effect.

In summary:

• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds.
• Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds.

These devices are often used together in poems to create a specific mood or effect. For example, Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle into the Good Night" uses both assonance and alliteration: "Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight… Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light".

Comparative Table: Assonance vs Alliteration vs Consonance

Here is a table that summarizes the differences between assonance, alliteration, and consonance:

Assonance and alliteration are both types of consonance, which is a broader term that refers to the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words. Assonance focuses on repeating vowel sounds, while alliteration and consonance focus on repeating consonant sounds. Alliteration specifically refers to the repetition of initial consonant sounds in multiple words, whereas consonance can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.