Effect Alliteration Quiz

1. Why does the poet repeat the "w" sound in the phrase "Wicked winds wildly whipped the water"?

To create a gentle, quiet mood.

To emphasize the harshness and intensity of the wind.

To make the scene sound silly and humorous.

To slow the rhythm of the lines.

The hard, breathy 'w' sound, combined with violent verbs, emphasizes the harshness and intensity of the action.

Explanation

The hard, breathy 'w' sound, combined with violent verbs, emphasizes the harshness and intensity of the action.

2. Question: The repeated 's' sound in the phrase "Silent snakes stealthily slid" creates a rhythm that feels secretive and _______.

The soft, drawn-out 's' (sibilance) creates a smooth, hushed, or secretive rhythm.

Explanation

The soft, drawn-out 's' (sibilance) creates a smooth, hushed, or secretive rhythm.

Submit

3. Repeating the 'b' or 'p' sound (plosives) often creates a light, calm, and peaceful mood.

True

False

This is false. Plosive sounds ('b,' 'p,' 't,' 'd') create an abrupt, percussive effect that breaks the rhythm, often suggesting excitement or aggression.

Explanation

This is false. Plosive sounds ('b,' 'p,' 't,' 'd') create an abrupt, percussive effect that breaks the rhythm, often suggesting excitement or aggression.

4. What is the effect of the alliteration in the phrase "Golden glory gleamed in the grass"?

To create a feeling of danger and threat.

To create a soft, melodious, and beautiful sound.

To make the passage sound sharp and aggressive.

To speed up the rhythm drastically.

The repeated 'g' sound, when combined with soft vowels, creates a melodious and beautiful sound, enhancing the positive image.

Explanation

The repeated 'g' sound, when combined with soft vowels, creates a melodious and beautiful sound, enhancing the positive image.

5. Which effects are typically created by repeating the soft 'l' sound (liquid consonant) as in "Lovely lilies lazily lay"? (Select all that apply)

A fast, choppy rhythm

A calming, liquid rhythm

A soft, soothing mood

A sharp, jarring mood

The soft 'l' sound is a liquid consonant that contributes to a calming, liquid, and soothing rhythm and mood.

Explanation

The soft 'l' sound is a liquid consonant that contributes to a calming, liquid, and soothing rhythm and mood.

Submit

6. Question: In the phrase "The clock ticked, a terrible, tiny tattoo," the repeated 't' sound is a percussive sound that reinforces a feeling of monotony or _______.

The repeated, abrupt 't' sound mimics a persistent noise, reinforcing a feeling of tension or annoyance.

Explanation

The repeated, abrupt 't' sound mimics a persistent noise, reinforcing a feeling of tension or annoyance.

Submit

7. Why does an author repeat the 'c' or 'k' sound (hard consonants) in the phrase "Crashing currents crushed the small coast"?

To make the mood feel delicate and fragile.

To create a harsh, jarring, or powerful mood.

To make the reader think of soft voices.

To slow the reading pace significantly.

Hard consonants create a harsh, jarring, or powerful effect, reinforcing the violence of the action.

Explanation

Hard consonants create a harsh, jarring, or powerful effect, reinforcing the violence of the action.

8. Alliteration always makes a poem sound childish and simple, regardless of the sound used.

True

False

This is false. Alliteration is a sophisticated technique used to control rhythm, emphasis, and mood.

Explanation

This is false. Alliteration is a sophisticated technique used to control rhythm, emphasis, and mood.

9. What is the main effect of the repeated soft 'f' sound in the phrase "Flickering flames fought fiercely against the floor"?

To create a light, energetic rhythm.

To slow the pace to a crawl.

To emphasize the struggle or force of the fire.

To make the line feel quiet and still.

The repeated 'f' sound, often combined with aggressive verbs, is used for emphasis and to reinforce the feeling of force or struggle.

Explanation

The repeated 'f' sound, often combined with aggressive verbs, is used for emphasis and to reinforce the feeling of force or struggle.

10. Which effects are typically created by repeating the 'm' or 'n' sound (nasal consonants) as in "Many men mumbled muffled memories"? (Select all that apply)

A harmonious, reflective mood

A loud, booming rhythm

A soft, murmuring sound

A feeling of thoughtfulness or quiet sadness

Nasal consonants like 'm' and 'n' create a soft, murmuring sound and a reflective or thoughtful mood.

Explanation

Nasal consonants like 'm' and 'n' create a soft, murmuring sound and a reflective or thoughtful mood.

Submit

11. Question: In the phrase "The big blue boat bobbed below," the alliteration helps to create a playful and _______ rhythm.

The repeated, light 'b' sound creates a playful and bouncy rhythm that matches the image of a boat gently bobbing.

Explanation

The repeated, light 'b' sound creates a playful and bouncy rhythm that matches the image of a boat gently bobbing.

Submit

12. Why would a poet repeat the 'th' sound in a phrase like "Thin threads thoughtfully threw shadows"?

To create a sense of mystery or quiet precision.

To make the line sound loud and angry.

To draw attention away from the main idea.

To create a very fast, light rhythm.

The 'th' sound is often quiet and requires careful articulation, contributing to a sense of mystery or quiet precision.

Explanation

The 'th' sound is often quiet and requires careful articulation, contributing to a sense of mystery or quiet precision.

13. Alliteration is primarily a tool for grammar and has no effect on a passage's emotional mood.

True

False

This is false. Alliteration is a literary device whose primary function is to enhance mood, emphasis, and rhythm.

Explanation

This is false. Alliteration is a literary device whose primary function is to enhance mood, emphasis, and rhythm.

14. What is the effect of the alliteration in the phrase "She sells seashells by the seashore"?

To create a slow, halting rhythm.

To create a quick, light, and tongue-twisting rhythm.

To develop a theme of loneliness.

To emphasize harsh, negative emotions.

The rapid repetition of the soft 's' sound creates a quick, light, and tongue-twisting rhythm.

Explanation

The rapid repetition of the soft 's' sound creates a quick, light, and tongue-twisting rhythm.

15. Which effects are typically created by repeating the soft 'sh' sound in the phrase "A shocking silence sheltered the sheep"? (Select all that apply)

A hushed, soothing mood

A loud, aggressive rhythm

A sense of stillness

A jarring, abrupt effect

The soft 'sh' sound contributes to a hushed, soothing mood and a sense of stillness.

Explanation

The soft 'sh' sound contributes to a hushed, soothing mood and a sense of stillness.

Submit

16. Question: The repetition of initial sounds, which is called alliteration, helps the words to stick in the reader's mind, increasing the line's emotional _______.

By drawing the reader's attention to the words, alliteration increases the line's emotional emphasis.

Explanation

By drawing the reader's attention to the words, alliteration increases the line's emotional emphasis.

Submit

17. Why does an author repeat the 'd' sound in the phrase "Doubt danced deeply in the dark"?

To create a feeling of bright confidence.

To give the negative idea ('Doubt') a feeling of weight and solemnity.

To speed up the rhythm drastically.

To introduce a humorous element.

The deep, heavy 'd' sound (a plosive) gives the abstract idea of 'Doubt' a feeling of weight and solemnity.

Explanation

The deep, heavy 'd' sound (a plosive) gives the abstract idea of 'Doubt' a feeling of weight and solemnity.

18. The rhythmic effect of alliteration can make a line of poetry or prose more musical and memorable.

True

False

This is true. Alliteration is a key tool in poetry to enhance the musicality and memorability of the language.

Explanation

This is true. Alliteration is a key tool in poetry to enhance the musicality and memorability of the language.

19. The alliteration in the phrase "Crunchy, crispy carrots cooked correctly" mainly serves to:

Emphasize the negative flavor of the food.

Create a sensory effect that suggests the food's texture.

Slow the pace to emphasize the difficulty of cooking.

Develop a theme of hunger.

The repeated 'c' and 'k' sounds mimic the sound of eating, creating a sensory effect that suggests the food's texture.

Explanation

The repeated 'c' and 'k' sounds mimic the sound of eating, creating a sensory effect that suggests the food's texture.

20. Which non-verbal cues typically indicate openness and confidence? (Select all that apply)

Shoulders hunched

Arms uncrossed and held loosely

Leaning back slightly

Maintaining an upright posture

Uncrossed arms and upright posture are signals that the speaker is open and not defensive.

Explanation

Uncrossed arms and upright posture are signals that the speaker is open and not defensive.

Submit

Sound and Style: Explaining the Effect of Alliteration on Mood or Rhythm Quiz