“Full fathom five, thy father lies.”
In this line by Shakespeare, the consonant “f” sound is repeated several times and this is an example of alliteration. So we can say that alliteration is the repetition of the letter or syllables or the same sound at the beginning of the two or more words in a line. In this way language becomes musical. The definition of alliteration can be referred also in different manners. According to Abrams, it happens when the recurrent sound occurs in a conspicuous position; at the beginning of a word or of a stressed syllable within a word. Again it is said that alliteration may happen at the beginning of nearby words or in the middle or even at the end of words provided stressed syllables. The use of alliteration makes the importance of literary significance in more intensified degree. This figure of speech is more frequent in writing poetry. By using alliteration a writer presents his sense of elegance in regard of his literary understanding. It shows and employment of mastery by the writer. For examples:
a) The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew
The furrow followed free. (Coleridge)
b) Puffs, powders, patches, bibles, billet-doux. (Pope)
c) With beaded bubbles winking at the brim. (Keats)
d) Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone, on a wide, wide sea! (Coleridge)
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