Alliteration
Definition
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
Example from Canterbury Tales
"At meat her manners were well-taught withal,;
No morsel from her lips did she let fall,"
(65)
Function
In this excerpt from Canterbury Tales, the repetition of the /m/ sound in "meat her manners" and the /w/ sound in "were well-taught withal" create an overall flow and make the text easier and more enjoyable to read. The use of alliteration creates a musical effect and makes the text more attractive and appealing. In general, it provides emphasis on a particular point being made or makes some aspect of the work more memorable.
Another example
"'Don't lie to me,' Myrtle gasped, tears now flooding down her face, while Peeves chuckled happily over her shoulder. 'D'you think I don't know what people call me behind my back? Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle!'"
Non-original mnemonic
Original mnemonic
Alliterations Are Always Appealing, Attractive, And Awesome!
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