Consonance

Home | Literary Devices

Macbeth: The Story Within

Definition: the repetition of consonants (or consonant patterns)

Example:

"Outran the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan, his silver skin lac'd with his golden blood; and his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature for ruin's wasteful entrance."
Act 2, Scene 3, Lines 114-116).


Explanation:

The repeating "s" sound mimics that of a hissing snake. With Macbeth being the sneaky person he is, his snakelike qualities are shown when he beats around the bush trying to explain Duncan's murder to everyone.

silverskin.jpg

Repetition

Courtney Brock, Mr. Brisebois, English 11 A2, May 12, 2005