ALLITERATION, the succession or quent occurrence of words beginning with the same consonant. In the older Scandinavian.
German and Anglo-Saxon poetry it served in stead of rhyme. It is found in early English poetry with the same function. As thus used it had a certain of accent and em phasis. In 'Piers Plowman> the line is con structed with two hemistichs, the former with two words beginning with the alliterative letter, and the latter with one, thus: Her robe was full rich with red scarlet engreyned." The poetry of widely separated nations ex hibits this device, it being found both in India and in Finland. It still remains in Icelandic poetry. Early in the 17th century English writers ran to great extravagance in the use of alliteration, both in prose and poetry. It is said that preachers from their pulpits addressed their hearers as "chickens of the church" and "sweet swallows of salvation." No other device of composition so easily lends itself to fanciful conceits or ingenious trifling. The
ease with which devices may be marshaled would hardly tend to make the ordinary reader appreciative of Churchill's description of him self one 'Who often, but, without had prayed For apt alliteration'sartful aid.' But the couplet itself is a striking proof of its own truth, for it shows that the poet did not know what alliteration is: it must be of con sonants, not vowels, and even so his a's are alike only to the eye, not the ear. All good poets have used it to lend musical beauty or emphasis to their verse, though it can be over used or misused. Following are a few from the chief American poets: "And the spark struck out by that steed in his Might Kindled the land into Pune with its heat." Loucanus.ow.
"It carves the bow of beauty there, And the ripples in rhymes the oar forsake." _ "Of wailing winds, and naked woods."