Sound Devices and Other Techniques

<h3>Sound Devices</h3>

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<tr style="background:#f0f9f4"><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Technique</th><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Definition</th><th style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Example</th></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Alliteration</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Repetition of a consonant sound at the start of words</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"The dark, damp dungeon"</td></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Onomatopoeia</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Words that sound like what they describe</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">buzz, crash, sizzle</td></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Sibilance</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Repetition of 's' sounds — creates a hissing effect</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"Softly she slipped into the shadows"</td></tr>

<tr><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd"><strong>Assonance</strong></td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">Repetition of vowel sounds</td><td style="padding:8px;border:1px solid #ddd">"The rain in Spain stays mainly"</td></tr>

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<h3>Other Important Techniques</h3>

<ul>

<li><strong>Repetition</strong> — emphasises an idea or creates rhythm</li>

<li><strong>Rhetorical question</strong> — a question asked for effect, not a literal answer</li>

<li><strong>Rule of three / tricolon</strong> — three items in a row for rhythm and emphasis</li>

<li><strong>Juxtaposition</strong> — placing contrasting ideas together for effect</li>

<li><strong>Oxymoron</strong> — two contradictory words together: <em>bitter-sweet</em></li>

</ul>