Definition
What is assonance?
The repetition of vowel sounds within non-rhyming words.
Assonance echoes vowel sounds in nearby words (fade/pale/lake). It's subtler than rhyme and sits between alliteration (initial consonants) and consonance. It shapes tone—long vowels feel open and soft; short vowels feel tense or sharp. Use it to smooth prose, add lyricism, or make lines memorable without sing-song end rhyme.
On the page
Assonance examples
“The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”
“Hear the mellow wedding bells.”
Famous examples in literature
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
Dylan Thomas
Long o / oo sounds drive the pleading rhythm.
The Raven
Edgar Allan Poe
Short u/uh vowels in “uncertain rustling” make the line uneasy.
For writers
How writers use assonance
- Pick a target vowel that fits the mood
- Blend with consonance/alliteration for richer texture
- Read aloud—back off if it sounds forced
- Use lightly; heavy assonance can feel sing-song
Why it matters
- Adds musicality without overt rhyme
- Shapes mood through vowel color
- Makes phrases sticky for titles/taglines
- Lets you echo sound inside a line, not just at line ends
Across different genres
Short, tight vowels to build tension: “still, thin, stiff”
Open vowels for softness: “slow glow, honeyed notes”
Internal echoes to bind free-verse lines sonically
Memorable slogans via vowel echo
Common pitfalls
- Overuse becomes gimmicky
- Wrong vowel color for the scene's mood
- Sound over clarity—never obscure meaning
- Unintentional comic effect if paired oddly
Try it in your own writing
- Poetry: Write four lines around one vowel sound; swap vowels in a second draft to change mood
- Horror: One sentence whose assonance makes it feel claustrophobic
- Romance: Describe a kiss using open-vowel assonance to stretch time
Quick answers
Assonance FAQ
What is assonance?
The repetition of vowel sounds within non-rhyming words. Assonance echoes vowel sounds in nearby words (fade/pale/lake). It's subtler than rhyme and sits between alliteration (initial consonants) and consonance. It shapes tone—long vowels feel open and soft; short vowels feel tense or sharp. Use it to smooth prose, add lyricism, or make lines memorable without sing-song end rhyme.
What are some examples of assonance?
The examples on this page include My Fair Lady and The Bells. Each one shows how the device works in context.
How can writers use assonance effectively?
Pick a target vowel that fits the mood Blend with consonance/alliteration for richer texture Read aloud—back off if it sounds forced