Assonance is a literary device that involves the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other within a sentence or phrase. This repetition can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of the words and is used to create rhythm, mood, or emphasis in writing, especially in poetry and song lyrics. Unlike rhyme, which typically involves repetition of sounds at the end of words and includes both vowels and consonants, assonance focuses solely on vowel sounds. For example, in the phrase "No pain, no gain," the repeated "ai" vowel sound is an instance of assonance
. Assonance enhances the musical quality of language, making it more memorable and engaging. It can evoke specific emotions or moods depending on the vowel sounds repeated-for instance, long vowel sounds can create a calm feeling, while short vowel sounds might induce tension. Writers use assonance to add artistic flair and rhythm to both poetry and prose
. In summary, assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words to enrich the auditory experience of language, distinct from consonance (repetition of consonant sounds) and alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words)
