Which of these poetic passages use alliteration for effect?

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the day-at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs. (Walt Whitman, "I Hear America Singing")

It was a spring that never came; But we have lived enough to know That what we never have, remains; It is the things we have that go. (Sara Teasdale, "Wisdom")

In a solitude of the sea Deep from human vanity, And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she. (Thomas Hardy, "The Convergence of the Twain")

Question

Maia Barber

English

21 April, 13:53

Which of these poetic passages use alliteration for effect?

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the day-at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs. (Walt Whitman, "I Hear America Singing")

It was a spring that never came; But we have lived enough to know That what we never have, remains; It is the things we have that go. (Sara Teasdale, "Wisdom")

In a solitude of the sea Deep from human vanity, And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she. (Thomas Hardy, "The Convergence of the Twain")

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Answers (1)

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Mariam Miranda · Answer 1

I'd say the third passage because it's the only one in which alliteration (repeating initial consonant sounds to produce rhythm) is at all detectable ("solitude of the sea", "pride ... that planned", "stilly couches she").