Sound Effects in PoetrySound Effects in Poetry

Alliteration, Assonance and Alliteration, Assonance and RhymeRhyme

& how they can contribute to & how they can contribute to meaningmeaning

AlliterationAlliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds

My stick fingers click with a snicker

Light footed my steel feelers flicker

. . . I’m light like the moon

AssonanceAssonance

Repetition of vowel sounds

My stick fingers click with a snicker

Light footed my steel feelers flicker

. . . I’m light like the moon

Focus on sound not Focus on sound not spellingspelling

““Sleigh,” “ rain”, “page” assonate Sleigh,” “ rain”, “page” assonate though they are spelled differently.though they are spelled differently.

““Cycle” and “sail” alliterate though they Cycle” and “sail” alliterate though they are spelled differently.are spelled differently.

““Ice” and “fish” don’t assonate. The “ i” Ice” and “fish” don’t assonate. The “ i” sound is different though it is spelled sound is different though it is spelled the same.the same.

onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia

Words that sound like what they Words that sound like what they meanmean• Some single words are Some single words are

onomatopoeiasonomatopoeias– buzz, ding-dong, bang, hushbuzz, ding-dong, bang, hush– meow, woof, quackmeow, woof, quack– squeak, whisper, tittersqueak, whisper, titter

onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia

• Alliteration or assonance can create Alliteration or assonance can create an onomatopoeiaan onomatopoeia– ““the monstrous anger of the guns: the monstrous anger of the guns:

the stuttering rifles rapid rattle”the stuttering rifles rapid rattle”

The repeated r and t sounds make The repeated r and t sounds make this line sound like machine gunfirethis line sound like machine gunfire

Rhyme--words with a Rhyme--words with a similar soundsimilar sound

Exact Rhyme-- Exact Rhyme-- perfect assonance on perfect assonance on a stressed syllable a stressed syllable followed by the followed by the exact same soundsexact same sounds

Eye Rhyme--looks Eye Rhyme--looks like exact rhyme but like exact rhyme but pronounced pronounced differentlydifferently

Examples of Exact Examples of Exact RhymeRhyme• cat/satcat/sat• kitten/mittenkitten/mitten• bumbling/fumblingbumbling/fumbling• alone/stonealone/stone

Examples of Eye Examples of Eye RhymeRhyme• Blood/Food Cow/LowBlood/Food Cow/Low• Love/MoveLove/Move

Near RhymeNear Rhyme

ConsonanceConsonance-- same final consonant -- same final consonant • hohomme/sae/samme deae deathth/tru/truthth

AlliterationAlliteration + + AssonanceAssonance+ different final sound+ different final sound• blblaade/de/blblaame me ttiight/ght/ttiidede

Initial Initial AlliterationAlliteration + + Consonance Consonance • blblaadde/e/blbloooodd ssaamme/e/ssoomme e

identical identical unstressed syllableunstressed syllable following a different following a different stressed soundstressed sound• drowdrowningning/moa/moaningning

Other names for rhymesOther names for rhymes

Exact Rhyme is also called Perfect Exact Rhyme is also called Perfect Rhyme.Rhyme.

Near Rhyme is also calledNear Rhyme is also called• slant rhymeslant rhyme• approximate rhymeapproximate rhyme• half rhymehalf rhyme• off rhymeoff rhyme

I will use “exact” and “near.”I will use “exact” and “near.”

Positions of rhymesPositions of rhymes

Both rhyming words come at the Both rhyming words come at the end of lines = end rhyme.end of lines = end rhyme.

At least one of the rhyming words At least one of the rhyming words comes at someplace other than comes at someplace other than the end = internal rhyme.the end = internal rhyme.

Positions of rhymesPositions of rhymes

The splendor falls on castle wallsThe splendor falls on castle walls And snowy summits old in storyAnd snowy summits old in story The long light shakes across the lakesThe long light shakes across the lakes And the wild cataract leaps to gloryAnd the wild cataract leaps to glory

falls/walls shakes/lakes are internal falls/walls shakes/lakes are internal rhymes. story/glory is an end rhyme. rhymes. story/glory is an end rhyme. All these rhymes are exactAll these rhymes are exact

Masculine versus feminineMasculine versus feminine

Masculine rhymes Masculine rhymes rhyme on a single rhyme on a single stressed syllable.stressed syllable.

Feminine rhymes Feminine rhymes rhyme on a stressed rhyme on a stressed syllable followed by syllable followed by one or more one or more unstressed syllables.unstressed syllables.

moon/June car/starmoon/June car/star shakes/tykesshakes/tykes stone/alonestone/alone

coming/strummingcoming/strumming quiver/shiverquiver/shiver echo/geckoecho/gecko sighing/fightingsighing/fighting

Rhyme schemeRhyme scheme

A rhyme scheme is a pattern of end A rhyme scheme is a pattern of end rhymes used in a poem.rhymes used in a poem.

Certain fixed forms call for certain Certain fixed forms call for certain rhyme schemes.rhyme schemes.

We mark a rhyme scheme by labeling We mark a rhyme scheme by labeling the first final sound the first final sound aa. If the next final . If the next final sound rhymes with the first it also gets sound rhymes with the first it also gets an an aa, otherwise a , otherwise a bb and so on. and so on.

Labeling a Rhyme SchemeLabeling a Rhyme Scheme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Labeling a Rhyme SchemeLabeling a Rhyme Scheme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God. a

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; b

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil b

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? a

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; a

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; b

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil b

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. a

Look for Internal RhymeLook for Internal Rhyme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Look for Internal RhymeLook for Internal Rhyme

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Look for Assonance and Look for Assonance and AlliterationAlliteration

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Look for Look for AssoAssonancenance and and AlliAlliterterationation

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Look for Figures of SpeechLook for Figures of Speech

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

MetonymyMetonymy, , similesimile, , synecdoche, synecdoche, hyperbole, hyperbole, metaphor (explained on the metaphor (explained on the next pages] next pages]

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

MetonymyMetonymy

““Reck his rod” is a metonymy meaning Reck his rod” is a metonymy meaning to obey God. A rod is a staff or stick to obey God. A rod is a staff or stick such as a shepherd uses to lead his such as a shepherd uses to lead his flock, but it can also be used to beat. flock, but it can also be used to beat. So “reck his rod” can both mean to So “reck his rod” can both mean to “fear God’s power” with rod standing for “fear God’s power” with rod standing for the power to punish with it, or to “follow the power to punish with it, or to “follow God’s direction,” with rod standing for God’s direction,” with rod standing for the process of leading.the process of leading.

Metonymy and Metonymy and synecdochesynecdoche

the soil/ Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

The soil is a synecdoche for the earth. The soil is one part of the earth, but appropriately the part associating with growing crops. Saying the soil is bare is a way of saying that the world now is experiencing some literal barrenness, as result of pollution or exhaustion of the land, practical barrenness as a result of conversion from natural or agricultural into urban usage (we could grow things but do not use the land for that purpose), and spiritual barrenness. “Foot” is a synecdoche for humanity and “being shod” is a metonymy for being civilized. Being shod literally means wearing shoes. We wear shoes as we move away from our natural state. A foot in a shoe cannot feel the earth. A person in a urban environment no longer feels an emotional or spiritual connection with nature and its creator.

MetaphorMetaphor

““Generations have trod, have trod, Generations have trod, have trod, have trod”have trod”

This literally means that generations This literally means that generations have marched roughly over the earth. have marched roughly over the earth. This is a way of describing exploiting This is a way of describing exploiting the earth for profit or other advantage the earth for profit or other advantage with little regard for the effect on the with little regard for the effect on the environment. environment.

More metaphors More metaphors

““seared with trade” “smeared with toil” seared with trade” “smeared with toil” are also metaphors for the effects of are also metaphors for the effects of industry on the environment and our industry on the environment and our appreciation of it. To sear is to scorch, to appreciation of it. To sear is to scorch, to damage by burning. To smear is to damage by burning. To smear is to spread something (unpleasant) over spread something (unpleasant) over something else. The peasant who works something else. The peasant who works all day in the fields cannot look at them all day in the fields cannot look at them and see beauty, for they are “smeared and see beauty, for they are “smeared with toil.”with toil.”

HyperboleHyperbole

I also marked these lines “I also marked these lines “allall is is seared with trade, smeared, seared with trade, smeared, bleared with toil” as hyperboles, bleared with toil” as hyperboles, because Hopkins is overstating the because Hopkins is overstating the case for effect. case for effect.

End-stopped End-stopped vs. vs. EnjambedEnjambed

In end-stopped lines there is a pause in the meaning of the poem at the end of a line. In other words, the end of the line coincides with the end of a thought, or a pause in the thought.

In strongly end-stopped lines the pause is created by the end of a sentence and marked by a period, question mark, exclamation point, or a semi-colon. In weakly end-stopped lines the pause is created by the end of a phrase and is marked by a comma.

End-stopped End-stopped vs. vs. EnjambedEnjambed

In enjambed lines the meaning continues on to the next line without a pause. There is no punctuation mark at the end of the line. When reading aloud, do not pause at the end of enjambed lines.

Which lines are end-Which lines are end-stopped and which stopped and which enjambed ?enjambed ?

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

End-stopped End-stopped vs. vs. EnjambedEnjambed

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

Sound & meaningSound & meaning

Sound effects emphasize and link Sound effects emphasize and link certain words to reinforce the poet’s certain words to reinforce the poet’s meaning.meaning.• world charged grandeur God world charged grandeur God

– linked by r and d soundslinked by r and d sounds

• grandeur God gathers greatness grandeur God gathers greatness – linked by g soundslinked by g sounds

Both examples above almost illustrate Both examples above almost illustrate their meaning through sound effects.their meaning through sound effects.

Sound & meaningSound & meaning

Sound effects emphasize and link Sound effects emphasize and link certain words to reinforce the poet’s certain words to reinforce the poet’s meaning.meaning.• seared bleared smearedseared bleared smeared

– linked by rhymelinked by rhyme

• smeared, smudged, smellsmeared, smudged, smell– linked by alliteration of sm soundlinked by alliteration of sm sound

Both of these examples heighten the Both of these examples heighten the tone of disgust by emphasizing negative tone of disgust by emphasizing negative words.words.

Sound & MeaningSound & Meaning

Sound effects create cacophony or Sound effects create cacophony or euphony and alter the flow or rhythm of euphony and alter the flow or rhythm of the poem in ways that fit the poet’s the poem in ways that fit the poet’s meaning.meaning.• Cacophony--”Why do men then now nor Cacophony--”Why do men then now nor

reck his rod?” Difficult to say, slows reader reck his rod?” Difficult to say, slows reader down, sounds short and choppy to reflect down, sounds short and choppy to reflect man’s perversity.man’s perversity.

• Euphony in the second stanza reinforces the Euphony in the second stanza reinforces the positive turn of the poem.positive turn of the poem.

Sound & MeaningSound & Meaning

End rhymes may embody or End rhymes may embody or reinforce a theme or tone of the reinforce a theme or tone of the poem. poem. • God/ rodGod/ rod emphasizes God the father’s emphasizes God the father’s

capacity to punish heedless mankind.capacity to punish heedless mankind.• Springs/wingsSprings/wings emphasizes the emphasizes the

uprising of the Holy Spirit's loving uprising of the Holy Spirit's loving concern for the “bent world.”concern for the “bent world.”