What is assonance?

Assonance is defined as the repetition of vowel sounds within stressed syllables in a sentence or phrase. This literary device is often used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, reinforce meaning, and produce a musical quality that enhances the overall emotional effect of the text. For example, in the phrase “The raven waved in the pained rain,” the repetition of the long "a" and "e" vowel sounds creates a melodic resonance, drawing the reader's attention to the imagery and mood being conveyed. This differentiation from other devices highlights the unique role that vowel sounds can play in crafting the auditory experience of language, making it distinct from consonance, puns, or structural arrangements like stanzas.