Alliteration

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Alliteration is a stylistic device, or literary technique, in which successive words (more strictly, stressed syllables) begin with the same consonant sound or letter. Alliteration is a frequent tool in poetry but it is also common in prose, particularly to highlight short phrases. Especially in poetry, it contributes to euphony of the passage, lending it a musical air. It may add a humorous effect. Related to alliteration are assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, and consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds.

Alliterative verse in one form or another is shared by all of the Germanic languages. In the English language, alliteration occurs in Old English poetry, of which it was a central component. In the Romantic era, it was once more given attention: the Romantics were generally interested in making poetry more musical, and in the ancient heritage of their native languages. Richard Wagner, for instance, used alliteration extensively in his operatic texts. (cf. Stabreim)

1 Examples
- 1.1 Literary examples
- 1.2 Common examples
2 See also
3 External links

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Examples

Examples of alliteration include well-known tongue-twisters such as "Round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran" and "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Examples of consonance include "Sparkling...Flavorful...Miller High Life" (advertising slogan for Miller beer).

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Literary examples

The memories flash like dusk heat lightning,

Or the fireflies that flit and flare

But grow rusty like the screen door, sighing

With creaks and groans in the hot night air.

- From A Long Way South of Now by Torre DeVito

And tell the pleasant Prince this mock of his

/ Hath turned his balls to gun stones

- Act 1 Scene Two of Henry V by William Shakespeare

Here the alliterative use of the letter 'p' emphasises Henry's sarcasm.

Alliteration has also been used in the titles of the Lemony Snicket Books.

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Common examples

Like rhyme, alliteration is a great help to memory: it is 'catchy', and frequently used in news headlines, corporate names, literary titles, advertising, buzzwords, and nursery rhymes.

Amber Alert
baby boom
back to basics
balance the books
Beavis and Butt-Head
Big Ben
boom or bust
Coca-Cola
Big Bang
do or die
green as grass
hale and hearty
John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith
Making magic
McDonald's Massacre
Methuselah Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Monday morning
the more the merrier
kill the king
pay the price
peer-to-peer
Pontiac Pursuit
poor but proud
live the life
swim or sink
Super Sonic
Surround Sound
it takes two to Tango
Tiny Tim
Take two
Tribulation Tech
watchful waiting
Suffering Succotash

At least two notable computer games are named with alliteration:

The Leisure Suit Larry (and other) games often feature alliteration for humorous names of fictional companies, magic spells etc.

Occasionally parents and authors use alliteration in the naming of their children and characters:

It is also common in the naming of many comic book super-heroes:

Stan Lee, co-creator of many comic book super-heroes, has stated that he named many of his characters using alliteration as an aid in helping himself remember them, as he is creator of many, and often forgets easily.

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