Question

Is this an example of assonance: How now, brown cow?

Answer 1

Hint: Assonance is a term used for the resemblance in the sounds of words/syllables either between their vowels (e.g., green, mean) or between their consonants (e.g., keep, cape). However, assonance between consonants in American usage is generally called consonance. We will learn more about assonance in the complete answer below.

Complete answer:
Let us discuss what is assonance in detail and then we will figure out if the given example is similar as an assonance. Assonance as it is pronounced as–uh-nuh ns, is the word which is derived from the Latin phrase assonare, that means to answer with the same sound. Assonance can be defined as the repetitiveness of the same or similar vowel sounds within words, phrases, or sentences.

The following is a simple example of assonance:
She seems to beam lean rays of sunshine with her eyes of green.
In this example, the writer uses assonance to describe a pretty woman. Assonance occurs in the repeating vowel sounds of seems, beam, lean and green.

Let us see if “ How now, brown cow” meets the definition? There is a repeated vowel - "ow" - and the words follow each other, so undoubtedly , there is the repetition which is noticeable. Therefore, this is an example of assonance

Note: Many examples of assonance can be found in prose and poetry. Assonance is largely used in literary works such as poetry as the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words make it sound more catchy. It is used to emphasise on the meanings of words or to set the mood.