Contrary to what past generations of metrists have maintained, they argue, building on Yakovlev's theory, that
alliteration is not a structural feature of English alliterative versification.
Each half-line contains two stresses, and the first half-line (or on-verse) bears
alliteration on one or both of its stresses whereas the second half-line (or off-verse) bears
alliteration on its first stressed word only.
"Sometimes finding the exact word or phrase was a challenge - I would agonise over aspects such as rhythm and
alliteration, trying to find two or three suitable words beginning with the same letter while working to get it sounding as fluent as possible and to make sure the meaning was conveyed."
I recently published an A to Z collection of alliterative verse entitled
Alliteration, Again and Again.
Both
alliteration and onomatopoeia have been used in this verse:
The conclusion draws together various elements in the previous four chapters: "The Song of Songs was written circa 900 13.C.E., in the northern dialect of Hebrew, by an author of unsurpassed ability, adept at the techniques of
alliteration and polyprosopon, able to create the most sensual and erotic poetry of his day, and all the while incorporating into his work a subtext critical of the Judahite monarchy in general and Solomon in particular" (p.
The writing can sometimes be rather florid so that one has references to the 'magic and the mystery' of the coronalion: the
alliteration is pleasant enough but there was no 'magic', only sacramental grace through the Mass and the anointing.
If you want to make newspaper writing fun and creative, then what better than a resource which challenges your children to write a headline for a well known nursery rhyme or story using
alliteration? (Although it is worth bearing in mind that the children will need to have covered
alliteration in a previous lesson.) This is a versatile worksheet which invites pair work, brainstorming, collaborative group work and plenty of opportunities for thinking creatively.
ANSWERS: 1 Sutherland; 2 Edmund Cartwright; 3 Darlington; 4 Canada; 5 Colditz; 6 The River Styx; 7 The Spice Girls; 8 Bill Frindall; 9
Alliteration; 10 The First Wives Club.
This meter, combined with her playful use of the pun,
alliteration, internal rhyme and other rhetorical figures, allows Page to elevate what is sometimes mundane content, as when she writes, "I was crazy for colour.
The assonance and
alliteration of Poe's weighty "The Bells" is born again as "The Smells," with odes to salty seashores and just-mowed grass.
Each letter is accompanied by a fun and sometimes quirky
alliteration, illustrated with creative and colorful artwork to match.