Which term refers to the repetition of vowel sounds?

Which term refers to the repetition of vowel sounds?

• A. Consonance
• B. Assonance
• C. Alliteration
• D. Epic

Answer: (B)

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words creates a musical, flowing effect in language. This is known as assonance. You can hear it when the same vowel sounds recur within neighboring words, helping to unify phrases and set a mood without relying on repeating consonants. For example, in a line like “hear the mellow wedding bells,” the long e sound repeats across different words, giving the line a soft, sing-song quality. Consonance, by contrast, is about repeating consonant sounds, often inside or at the ends of words, not specifically the vowels. Alliteration focuses on repeating initial consonant sounds. Epic describes a long narrative poem, not a stylistic sound device. So the term for repeating vowel sounds is assonance.

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words creates a musical, flowing effect in language. This is known as assonance. You can hear it when the same vowel sounds recur within neighboring words, helping to unify phrases and set a mood without relying on repeating consonants. For example, in a line like “hear the mellow wedding bells,” the long e sound repeats across different words, giving the line a soft, sing-song quality.

Consonance, by contrast, is about repeating consonant sounds, often inside or at the ends of words, not specifically the vowels. Alliteration focuses on repeating initial consonant sounds. Epic describes a long narrative poem, not a stylistic sound device. So the term for repeating vowel sounds is assonance.