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Literary Devices
Definition of Alliteration
Alliteration is a figure of speech in which the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “b” sound in: “Bob brought the box of bricks to... read full definition
Alliteration is a figure of speech in which the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “b” sound in: “Bob brought... read full definition
Alliteration is a figure of speech in which the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the... read full definition
Key Examples in Her First Ball
Alliteration
Explanation and Analysis—Gleaming, Golden Floor:
Mansfield uses alliteration to emphasize Leila’s enthusiasm and naïve view of the ball when she is describing the setting. Leila’s hyperbolic, grand descriptions of the ball demonstrate her romanticized vision of it and the social world around her, building the scene up for readers. For example, Leila gushes about the decorations, the dance floor, the lighting, and the flowers using hyperbolic language and grand imagery. In addition, though, her over-enthusiastic descriptions are heightened by the use of alliteration. A key example comes when Leila first observes the dance floor:
She clutched her fan, and, gazing at the gleaming, golden floor, the azaleas, the lanterns, the stage at one end with its red carpet and gilt chairs and the band in a corner, she thought breathlessly, ‘How heavenly; how simply heavenly!
Related Themes:
