Writing About Literature

Writing About LiteratureWriting About Literature

14. Figures of Sound14. Figures of Sound

Figures of Sound Figures of Sound ► In addition to meter and end rhymes, poetry can make In addition to meter and end rhymes, poetry can make

use of many other sounds of human speech, or phoneticsuse of many other sounds of human speech, or phonetics

► Called figures of sound, or sound devices, they may Called figures of sound, or sound devices, they may

enhance, alter or enhance, alter or

simply work alongside simply work alongside

the meaning of the the meaning of the

poempoem

► Like meter and rhyme, Like meter and rhyme,

these techniques these techniques

depend upon repetitiondepend upon repetition

Kjell Hansen’s sculpture, Upon the Universe Horizon, integrated into a Sound Poetry Performance here at the Frye Museum

► A sound device characterized by the repetition of the A sound device characterized by the repetition of the

same consonant two or more times in short same consonant two or more times in short

succession, such as pitter pattersuccession, such as pitter patter

► Examples: Examples:

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a

tapping,tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door –“Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door –

Only this, and nothing more.”Only this, and nothing more.”

from from The RavenThe Raven by Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe

And for you biting zealots, your raps are cacophonicAnd for you biting zealots, your raps are cacophonic

Hypocrite, critic, but deep inside you wish you had the pop hit. Hypocrite, critic, but deep inside you wish you had the pop hit.

from from ZealotsZealots by The Fugees by The Fugees

Other Figures of Sound:Other Figures of Sound:

ConsonanceConsonance

► Alliteration is a special type of consonance where the repeated Alliteration is a special type of consonance where the repeated

consonant sound is at the beginning of each neighboring word, consonant sound is at the beginning of each neighboring word,

in any syllables that, according to the poem's meter, are in any syllables that, according to the poem's meter, are

stressedstressed

► Also called head rhyme or initial rhymeAlso called head rhyme or initial rhyme

► Example: Example:

A wedding dress, or something white,A wedding dress, or something white,

To wear upon her swollen appetiteTo wear upon her swollen appetite

from from Joan of ArcJoan of Arc by Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen

► Alliteration has a gratifying effect on Alliteration has a gratifying effect on

the sound, gives a reinforcement to stresses, and can also serve the sound, gives a reinforcement to stresses, and can also serve

as a subtle connection or emphasis of key words in the lineas a subtle connection or emphasis of key words in the line


AlliterationAlliteration

► The repetition of similar vowels (with different end consonants) The repetition of similar vowels (with different end consonants)

in the stressed syllables of successive words to create internal in the stressed syllables of successive words to create internal

rhyming within phrases or sentencesrhyming within phrases or sentences

► Example: Example:

somewhere i have never traveled, gladly beyondsomewhere i have never traveled, gladly beyond

any experience, your eyes have their silence:any experience, your eyes have their silence:

by e e cummingsby e e cummings

And the moon rose over an open fieldAnd the moon rose over an open field

from from AmericaAmerica by Paul Simon by Paul Simon

Bass! How low can you go?Bass! How low can you go?

Death row. What a brother knows.Death row. What a brother knows.

from from Bring the NoiseBring the Noise by Public Enemy by Public Enemy


AssonanceAssonance

► The study of inherent pleasantness or beauty (euphony) or The study of inherent pleasantness or beauty (euphony) or

unpleasantness (cacophony) of the sound of certain words and unpleasantness (cacophony) of the sound of certain words and

sentencessentences

► Cacophany often uses harsher sounds, including the "plosives" Cacophany often uses harsher sounds, including the "plosives"

(b, d, hard g, k, p, t) (b, d, hard g, k, p, t)

► Example of cacophony: Example of cacophony:

New verities, new inklings in the velvet hummedNew verities, new inklings in the velvet hummed

Of dynamos, where hearing’s leash is strummed….Of dynamos, where hearing’s leash is strummed….

Power’s script, - wound, bobbin-bound, refined-Power’s script, - wound, bobbin-bound, refined-

Is stopped to the slap of belts on booming spools, spurredIs stopped to the slap of belts on booming spools, spurred

Into the bulging bouillon, harnessed jelly of the stars.Into the bulging bouillon, harnessed jelly of the stars.

from from The Bridge The Bridge by Hart Craneby Hart Crane

► Ultimately, euphony and cacophony are in the ear of the listenerUltimately, euphony and cacophony are in the ear of the listener


PhonaestheticsPhonaesthetics

► Full Rhyme (Perfect or True): A repetition of similar sounds in Full Rhyme (Perfect or True): A repetition of similar sounds in

the last stressed vowel and of all the speech sounds following the last stressed vowel and of all the speech sounds following

that vowel in two or more words. that vowel in two or more words.

► Example: láte-fáte-gráte; fóllow-hóllow; ascénd-depéndExample: láte-fáte-gráte; fóllow-hóllow; ascénd-depénd

► Also, the consonant that precedes the vowel sound must differ Also, the consonant that precedes the vowel sound must differ

or it is simply repetition, not rhymeor it is simply repetition, not rhyme

► A feminine rhyme matches two or more syllables in which the A feminine rhyme matches two or more syllables in which the

final syllable or syllables are unstressed.final syllable or syllables are unstressed.


More RhymesMore Rhymes

► Slant Rhyme (half, sprung, near, oblique, off or imperfect): A Slant Rhyme (half, sprung, near, oblique, off or imperfect): A

repetition of similar sounds in the final consonants but not the repetition of similar sounds in the final consonants but not the

vowels (although they are generally close in sound) in two or vowels (although they are generally close in sound) in two or

more wordsmore words

► Example: through-throw; watch-matchExample: through-throw; watch-match

► When have I last looked onWhen have I last looked on

The round green eyes and the long wavering bodiesThe round green eyes and the long wavering bodies

Of the dark leopards of the moon?Of the dark leopards of the moon?

All the wild witches, those most noble ladies,All the wild witches, those most noble ladies,

from from Lines Written in Dejection Lines Written in Dejection by W.B. Yeatsby W.B. Yeats

► On-moon and bodies-ladies slant because the vowels of the On-moon and bodies-ladies slant because the vowels of the

accented syllables do not match perfectly.accented syllables do not match perfectly.


More RhymesMore Rhymes

► When the phonetic aspects of poetry are given greater weight When the phonetic aspects of poetry are given greater weight

than the semantic meaningsthan the semantic meanings


Sound PoetrySound Poetry

ffr

frauffrau

fffraauuffffraaauuu

fffffraaaauuuufffffraaaaauuuuu

ffffffraaaaaauuuuuufffffffraaaaaaauuuuuuu

ffffffffraaaaaaaauuuuuuuufffffffffraaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuu

Fffffffffffraaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuu

Pain Through Friction by Ernst Jandl

► When the typographic aspects of poetry are expanded to give When the typographic aspects of poetry are expanded to give

visual referencevisual reference


Soundless Poetry: ConcreteSoundless Poetry: Concrete

► George Herbert, Easter Wings/ The Temple (1633)George Herbert, Easter Wings/ The Temple (1633)



► Temperance poetryTemperance poetry



► Eugen Gomringer's 1954 poem "Schweigen," which consists of Eugen Gomringer's 1954 poem "Schweigen," which consists of

iterations of the word "schweigen," a German word relating to iterations of the word "schweigen," a German word relating to

silence, which surround an empty, silent space in the third silence, which surround an empty, silent space in the third

line: line:

schweigen schweigen schweigenschweigen schweigen schweigen


schweigen schweigenschweigen schweigen






ConcreteConcreteBy John Cage

Dada poem


ConcreteConcrete

By Kurt SchwittersUntitled (With Red 4) Collage, pen, pencil, ink and paper on paper176 x 152 mm


ConcreteConcrete

By Brion GysinInk-painted letters in Asian and Arabic scripts. The artist, who spoke Japanese and Arabic, played with the opposition between the Japanese vertical script and horizontal Arabic writing with an interest in painting these figures to make crossings and grids.


ConcreteConcrete

By K

enneth Patchen

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