Consonance. You Know, That Thing Then Consonants Keep Repeating? 🔁

Consonance and alliteration are frequently mistaken for one another. This is probably because consonance can occur anywhere within a word. While both pertain to consonants, alliteration only occurs at the beginning of a word. While they may be different techniques, they may also be used simultaneously which likely adds to the confusion. However, the task at hand hopes to clarify the confusion and make it easier to both recognize and understand the difference between the two.

What is Consonance?

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in a line of text. It may occur anywhere in a word but is most common at the end or at the end of a stressed syllable. Consonance is most common in poetry and typically occurs in quick succession such as in “pitter, patter.” Consonance is frequently used to add rhythm.

When do writers use Consonance?

Consonance is frequently mistaken for alliteration or assonance. Where alliteration is the repetition of the same letter sound and assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together, consonance refers specifically to repeated consonants. 

Writers use consonance to create rhythm or rhyme, setting the pace for readers. Poets use consonance to make their writing more attractive to readers. If the words in a line are more engaging, a reader is more likely to pause over a line or reread it. This is often beneficial because a single poetic line can contain a large amount of information or meaning.

Some Useful Tips for Using Consonance in Your Writing

Be creative: Create half-rhymes, or “slant rhymes,” as they are often called. This type of rhyme uses words that sound similar but do not actually rhyme such as “worm” and “swarm.” While they do not actually rhyme, this technique adds a musical quality to your writing. (Note: Consonance is popular in hip-hop lyrics and rap music because it creates a sort of internal rhyme.)

Engage your readers. Consonance-laden words and phrases will generally cause the reader to slow down and reread those lines. This is beneficial if you are trying to convey a lot with only a few words.

Use consonance to create emotion in your writing. Some consonant sounds can create feelings of intimacy, sleepiness, dreaminess or even mystery or suspense. Examples include “ship,” “zip,” “charm,” and “jewel.” Harder consonant sounds like “k” or “g” can intensify the language and create a sense of urgency.

Create fun tongue twisters by choosing words that have the same consonant sound. For example, if you want to use the consonant sound “b”, you could choose words like “bob”, “bib”, and “bubble”. A great example is, “Peter, piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” where the “c” and “ck” sounds may trip people up. (Yes, this one is also full of alliteration and assonance, which is what makes it such a great example.”

While you do not need to place the words closely together, it can be beneficial. This will help emphasize the consonant sound and make it more noticeable.

Consonance in Literature 📚

In literature, consonance is used to enhance prose to make it more memorable and in some cases, add a rhythmic, lyrical quality to it.

In Moby Dick, Herman Melville utilized consonance to create the illusion of waves. In the following passage, note the repetition of the “h,” “s,” and “n” within his words.

“Nearly all joined in singing this hymn, which swelled high about the howling of the storm”

In this brief passage, Melville uses the “s” and the “h” to aspirate while the nasal sound of the “n” creates waves within the words.

While rarely cited in this context, the King James version of the Holy Bible makes notable usage of consonance in this common and popular passage from the Book of Psalms:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

In this single passage, the “th” sound is repeated 10 times, slowing down the speech and adding a solemn weight to the words.

Consonance in Children’s Literature 🧸

Always a master of literary tools in children’s books, Dr. Seuss does it like no other. From The Cat and the Hat, here is one of the best examples of consonance in children’s literature:

Not only does the sentence have a rhyming quality, but the repetition of the “t” sound at the end of the nouns makes them easier to remember. The repetition of the “t” sound in this example not only creates fun rhyme but it creates a learning opportunity to teach children about nouns and sentence objects.

Consonance in Songs 🎧

Consonance can also be found in song lyrics across all genres. As with many other poetic devices, consonance is popular in rap and R&B.

In the lyrics from “We Made You”  above, Eminem repeats the “ll” sound as well as the “ss” and “s.” The resulting effect is a rhythmic rhyme underscored by a hissing sound which gives the upbeat rap a ominous feel and if you listen to the whole song, Eminem heavily repeats the the upbeat rap a ominous feel and if you listen to the whole song, Eminem heavily repeats the “s” throughout the whole song. Take a listen.

Another example is R. Kelly’s “Dollar Bill.” In this song, 

In these lyrics, Kelly repeats the “p,” “r,” and “t” sounds. While it sounds like he’s flattering the woman he is talking about, the emphasis placed on the words by his repetition of specific sounds adds a negative connotation to those words.

Consonance in Poetry ✍🏽

While clearly found in literature, consonance is most common in poetry. Below are a few noteworthy examples.

William Blake’s “The Tygre” –

In this single passage (also repeated at the end of the poem) the “r” sound is repeated 9 times. The repetition of this particular sound emphasizes words such as “tyger” and also sets a rhythm, or beat, for the passage.

Emily Dickenson creates slant rhymes with consonance in her poem “Poem 315.” While repeating the “l” sound, she writes:

Another great example is the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

In this poem, Coleridge repeats the “w,” “r,” “st,” and “t” sounds. In doing so, Coleridge establishes a rhyme scheme while adding a rhythmic, lyricall quality to the poem.

Examples of Consonance in Movies 🎥

Ok. So while technically not an example of consonance in movies, per se, who better to learn about consonance from that Jaba the Hutt.

For all you Star Wars fans out there.

Consonance in Advertising 📺

While not as common as assonance or alliteration, there are a few examples of consonance in advertising. Listed below are a few.

Cover Girl make-up repeats the “y” and “l” sounds in the slogan, “Easy, breezy, beautiful cover girl!”
Continental Airlines repeats the “st” and “t” sounds in their slogan, “First in the West with jet power flights.”
Bounty paper towels repeats the “r” sound” in the catch phrase “The Quicker Picker Upper”

Often Confused With…/Related literary devices 👥

Alliteration – The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in “close” proximity” to each other, meaning they may be consecutive, but they do not need to be. Great examples of this are, “We went whale watching” and “Sam sells cell phones” where the “w” and “ess” sounds repeat. Remember: Alliteration is about sound, not necessarily the same letter.

Assonance – The repetition of a particular vowel sound in words that are close together. Example: Dr. Seuss’ “That Sam-I-Am! That Sam-I-Am! I do not like that Sam-I-Am! / Do you like green eggs and ham?” Nolte how the “a” works with “m” to create the rhyming “am” sound to create rhythm and a lyrical quality to the words, making them more memorable.

FAQ 🤔