Alliteration
Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
Alliteration binds words into a unit the ear remembers, which is why it dominates proverbs, headlines and brand names as much as verse.
Alliteration examples
"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes."
— Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."
— tongue twister
"Old English poems such as Beowulf are organized around alliteration rather than rhyme: each line's stressed words share their opening sounds."
— Beowulf
"Five miles meandering with a mazy motion."
— Kubla Khan, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Spot the Alliteration
Score: 0/0The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes."
Which work is this from?
Explore every literary device in the poetic devices hub.
Alliteration: common questions
What is alliteration in literature?
The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words. Alliteration binds words into a unit the ear remembers, which is why it dominates proverbs, headlines and brand names as much as verse.
What is an example of alliteration?
A classic example is "From forth the fatal loins of these two foes." (Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare).
Browse the full literary devices glossary or everywriting tool and word bank.
The writer's edit
One practical writing tip, a new tool, and a fresh contest deadline, every Thursday. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.