What is allteration in poetry?

Alliteration is a literary device in which the same consonant sound is repeated two or more times in close succession. It is often used in poetry to create a sense of rhythm, melody, and emphasis. For example, in the following line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the alliteration of the "s" sound creates a sense of sibilance and suspense:

> The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,

The furrow followed free;

In this line, the repetition of the "f" sound creates a sense of flowing movement and speed. Alliteration can also be used to create a sense of humor or whimsy, as in the following line from Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky":

> 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

In this line, the alliteration of the "g" sound creates a sense of nonsense and wordplay. Alliteration is a versatile literary device that can be used to create a variety of effects in poetry.