consonance
What is Consonance? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples
Consonance Definition
Consonance (CAHN-so-nanss) is a literary sound device that repeats a consonant sound several times in a sequence of words. It’s easiest to spot in poetry, but it can be used to great effect in fiction, nonfiction, speeches, and advertisement as well.
The word consonance comes from French via the Latin consonantia, meaning “sounding together.”
Examples of Consonance
To be effective, consonant repetition must occur within a short sequence of words, though not necessarily consecutively. Note that the same consonant sound can come from different letters or letter combinations. Additionally, consonance doesn’t need to be at the beginning of a word.
Consider the following examples, where the repeated consonant sounds are bolded:
- “The phantom flashed past, aflame, then, “poof!” faded out of sight.” Notice that, here, the ph in phantom makes an f sound, but the f in of makes a v sound.
- “I know I’m beginning to renounce mayonnaise.”
- “I fell asleep slouched against the wall and, slumbering, I slid down to the floor.” Notice that sl is featured here. A consonant blend can be the repeated sound in consonance.
Consonant Sounds
Different repeated consonants have different effects on sound and comprehension.
Sibilance is a deliberate hissing effect created by using soft consonant sounds several times in quick succession, especially on stressed syllables. A soft consonant sound is one in which air passes through the teeth with the mouth open. S is the most prominent soft consonant. F, x, z, and soft c are generally agreed upon as soft consonants, and ch, sh, and th are sibilant consonant blends.
Plosive consonants are marked by airflow being stopped or cut at the throat, teeth, or lips. The voiceless plosives k, p, and t make the sharpest sounds; while the voiced plosives b, d, and g have a slightly softer impact.
Harmonious consonants have a soft, almost melodic impact. These are l, m, n, and r.
Consonance and Other Sound Devices
Consonance vs. Assonance
Assonance is a sound device that’s a close sibling of consonance. Essentially, it’s the vowel version, as vowel sounds are repeated within a short sequence of words. For example, in the sentence “I don’t know how the Winnego got over there, though.”, the long o sound repeats throughout. Notice that, as with consonance, the position of the vowel sound within the word doesn’t matter.
Consonance vs. Alliteration
Alliteration, on the other hand, can only occur at the beginning of each word, but it can be a consonant sound or a vowel sound.
- “Mika munches on mulberry muffins she made.”
- “Annie lobs apples at Agnes.”
Consonance and Prosody
Prosody is a metric concerned with the quantity and quality of meter and rhythm in poetry. Consonance can sharpen rhythm or meter, especially when it occurs at the end of stressed syllables. Observe the snap-like pop leant to the rhythm by consonance in the below example:
My heart is stuck beneath your heavy foot,
Too dense to crack, encrusted, scarred, a rock.
Consonance in Poetry and Song Lyrics
Since poetry and song lyrics are often concerned with the economy of words, sound devices like consonance are especially useful. The sound of words can enhance their meaning.
1. Amit Majmudar, “The Miscarriage”
In this poem, the resilience of the human spirit is tested. The speaker, whose partner has just suffered a miscarriage, sees fecundity everywhere, bitterly mocking him:
Some species can crack pavement with their shoots
to get their share of sun some species lay
a purple froth of eggs and leave it there
to sprinkle tidepools with tadpole confetti
some species though you stomp them in the carpet
have already stashed away the families
that will inherit every floor at midnight [bolded and underlined for emphasis]
The righteous indignation snaps on the repeated hard c, p, and t sounds, while the sibilant s gradually vents the pain.
2. Kevin Young, “Cadillac Moon”
This poem is a tribute to graffiti artist and activist Jean-Michel Basquiat, who painted a piece called “Cadillac Moon.”
no sirens
in sight. His career
of careening
since—at six—
playing stickball
a car stole
his spleen. Blind
sided. Move
along folks—nothing
to see here. Driven,
does two Caddys
colliding, biting [bold for emphasis]
The strong rhythm in these strophes is accented by the repetition of the hard c/k sound. The chaotic mood of the painting and the chaos of Basquiat’s early life are echoed here.
3. Janelle Monáe, “Django Jane”
Monáe often celebrates Black women in her lyrics. This song addresses the endless struggles Black women face in the United States, their limitless perseverance, and the exhaustion brought on by it all:
Straight out of Kansas City, yeah we made it out there
Celebrated, graduated, made it pass/fail
Sassy, classy, Kool-Aid with the kale [bolded and underlined for emphasis]
The repeated hard c/k sound and soft c/s sound almost make this feel like a cheerleader cheer.
Examples of Consonance in Literary Prose
1. Holy BIble, KJV, Psalm 23:4
In this oft-cited example from the King James Version of the Bible, the sibilant th sound is repeated six times:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [bold for emphasis]
The consonance slows down the speech and adds an airy austerity.
2. Herman Melville, Moby Dick
This example show how consonance can have a strong impact on a work of prose:
Nearly all joined in singing this hymn, which swelled high about the howling of the storm… [bold for emphasis]
The aspirate s and h sounds are anchored by the soft, nasal n sounds, creating waves within the words.
3. David Anthony Durham, Gabriel's Story
Durham’s lively, lush novel is told from the seldom-seen perspective of a Black cowboy. The title character, who longs for wide open spaces, clashes with his stepfather, Solomon, whose dream is to run a successful farm:
“This earth is tough stuff, I tell you,” he said. “Break a man's back, break a plow, break an ox's back for that matter.” [bold for emphasis]
The bounce of the repeated b sounds suggest that Solomon’s words are not resonating with Gabriel.
Further Resources on Consonance
In Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop, author Adam Bradley explores hip hop through a lens of poetic analysis. Consonance and other sound devices are surveyed and celebrated in some of the United States’ greatest poetry.
This Writing Cooperative piece explores how poets can best use sound devices like consonance to write.