Aural imagery and Meaning Sound and Sense Aural imagery and Meaning Jennifer A. Bennett Sanderson High School Wake County Public School System North Carolina

Sound & Sense Devices How a poet uses the individual or collected sounds in a poem to enhance or emphasize meaning (sense) within it Aural imagery—Handing us the sounds of the things and/or emotions the poem is about Important indicator of tone; can set mood Subtle (if used well) and sometimes even subconscious Avoid the brick-bat approach to these devices!

Types of S & S Devices Alliteration Consonance Assonance Euphony Cacophony Onomatopoeia

Alliteration Occurs when the initial sounds of a word, beginning either with a consonant or a vowel, are repeated in close succession in a line or lines of a poem. Mostly about beginning consonant sounds Examples: The snake silently slithered past Cyndi. Repetition of “s” sound at the beginnings of words in Close succession SO WHAT? The repetition of “s” sounds imitates the sound of the snake, creating an aural image! “Remembered with twinklings and twinges.” SO WHAT? “tw” repetition actually imitates the concept of twinkling and semi-involuntary twinge.

Consonance The repetition of consonant sound in close succession within a line or lines of a poem sounds can be anywhere in the words The snake silently slithered across the grass. The repetition of the “s” sound appears at different places in the words, not just the beginning.

Assonance Opposite of consonance The repetition of a vowel sound in close succession throughout a line or lines of a poem Usually in stressed syllables Examples: Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. By and by, nor spare a sigh, Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie. And yet you will weep and know why Repetition of long “i” sounds suggests the sound of the sigh.

Advertising Slogans Weather on the Ones (different letters, same sound) Scooby, Dooby, Doo, where are you? Wet Wipes Dora the Explorer Krispy Kreme Dunkin’ Donuts Hannah Montana Blues Clues Berenstain Bears The Now Network Bear in the Big Blue House Phil of the Future Rollie Pollie Ollie

Onomatopoeia The use of words that imitate or suggest the sound of the thing they present Examples: buzz, clop, lash, roar, meow, crash, bombard, choke Others: chew, whisper, murmur, mumble, strike, sizzle, chop, blast, zoom

Cacophony Noise! Combinations of sounds that create discord; harshness of sound produced by sharp, gutteral consonant and word combinations Short, clipped vowel sounds and consonants ex. “But notched and whelked and pocked and smashed” appropriate lyrics for a lullaby . . . ?

Euphony Sweet and pleasant sounding combinations of sounds/words that produce ease of articulation—soothing, flowing sounds Sound & sense: these soft & flowing sounds suggest a pleasant atmosphere and meaning Long vowel sounds, soft consonants Ex. Dark faces pale against that rosy flame, The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came. Dark faces pale against that rosy flame, The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came. Soothing effect: long vowels, soft consonants, and soothing hypnotic rhythm