Question

In an essay, explain how the alliteration in "Full Fathom Five" helps convey the atmosphere of the poem. Think about where the poem is set and what is described. Then, give two examples of alliteration in the poem, and describe how they add to the atmosphere. Use the reading selection to help you answer the question.

Answer 1

"Full Fathom Five" is a poem written by William Shakespeare and it forms a part of the play "The Tempest".

The poem is about a dead father whose body turns into a piece of art after his death making the sea richer and more beautiful than before. His bones get transformed into coral and his eyes turn into pearls. The mood of the poem is , thus, sad and dark.

Alliteration is a figure of speech in which a series of words in a row have the same first consonant sounds. The repetition of same first consonant sounds creates added effect in the poem.

Two examples of alliteration in the poem "Full Fathom Five" are as follows :

1. "Full fathom five thy father lies"

Here the F sounds are getting repeated

2. "But doth suffer a sea-change

Into something rich and strange.

Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell: "

Here the S sounds are getting repeated

The repetition of the F and S sounds creates an impression of being underwater where the body is resting on the ocean floor.