Final answer:
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in poetry that enriches the auditory experience and contributes to the poem's tone. It is present in works such as Edgar Allan Poe's and Richard Hugo's poems, and is crucial for creating musicality and mood within poems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assonance refers to the repetition of vowel sounds within close proximity in a text. It contributes to the musical quality of poems and affects their tone. A well-known example of assonance can be found in Edgar Allan Poe's line "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary..." where the repetition of the 'e' sound creates a somber atmosphere.Another example is from Richard Hugo's "The Lady in Kicking Horse Reservoir," where assonance is illustrated through the vowel sounds in the words "green," "tease," "deep," "slime," "pile," and "ice." These similar vowel sounds, or vowel rhyme, enrich the texture of the poem, linking words and enhancing the reader’s auditory experience.
When analyzing poetry, it's important to perform a close reading to identify patterns of assonance, as they play a significant role in creating a poem's tone of voice. For instance, in the poem "They Feed They Lion" by Levine, examining where assonance and rhyme occur can lead to a deeper understanding of how these elements affect the poem's overall mood and impact.