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Allegory
Definition of Alliteration
Alliteration is a figure of speech in which the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “b” sound in: “Bob brought the box of bricks to... read full definition
Alliteration is a figure of speech in which the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “b” sound in: “Bob brought... read full definition
Alliteration is a figure of speech in which the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the... read full definition
Chapter One
Explanation and Analysis—Alliteration:
Author Kenneth Grahame uses alliteration multiple times throughout the novel. For example, in the beginning of Chapter 1, the narrator uses alliteration to describe Mole's movements as he cleans up his home for spring:
So he scraped and scratched and scrabbled and scrooged, and then he scrooged again and scrabbled and scratched and scraped, working busily with his little paws and muttering to himself, ‘Up we go! Up we go!’ till at last, pop! his snout came out into the sunlight, and he found himself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow.
The /sc/ sound is repeated eight times in the above passage. The repetition of the /sc/ sound reflects Mole's repeated efforts to ascend from underground while also creating a sense of continuity and persistence. This sense of persistence fittingly mirrors Mole's determination to climb up and emerge into the world above. By incorporating this repetition of sound, Grahame effectively conveys Mole's experience to the reader in a descriptive and evocative manner. Grahame's use of alliteration also adds a layer of vividness to the narrative, allowing the reader to feel more connected to Mole's journey and the challenges he faces along the way.
The narrator also uses alliteration multiple times in Chapter 5 to describe the sight of a bird in its cage:
On the middle perch the fluffy occupant, head tucked well into feathers, seemed so near to them as to be easily stroked, had they tried; even the delicate tips of his plumped-out plumage were pencilled plainly on the illuminated screen.
In the passage above, note how the /p/ sound is repeated in the words "plumped-out," "plumage," "pencilled," and "plainly." This repetitive use of the /p/ sound creates a soft, rhythmic quality in the language. The alliteration of the /p/ sound in the phrase "plumped-out plumage" draws attention to the plumpness and fullness of the bird's feathers, while /p/ sound in the phrase "pencilled plainly" underscores the precision and clarity with which the tips of the bird's feathers are illuminated on the screen.
All in all, the whimsical tone of this alliteration aligns with the novel's genre and mood. By incorporating such linguistic techniques, Grahame adds a touch of playfulness and enchantment to the narrative, which all in all enhances the reader's experience and enjoyment of the novel.
Chapter Three
Explanation and Analysis—Nature's Slumber:
Mole personifies the arrival of winter in Chapter 3:
It was a cold still afternoon with a hard steely sky overhead, when he slipped out of the warm parlour into the open air. The country lay bare and entirely leafless around him, and he thought that he had never seen so far and so intimately into the insides of things as on that winter day when Nature was deep in her annual slumber and seemed to have kicked the clothes off.
The narrator employs personification by comparing the change in the physical landscape—specifically the change in foliage—to a person removing their clothes, highlighting the dramatic nature of the seasonal shift. Nature is given the ability to sleep, emphasizing the temporary dormancy that occurs during winter. Note how the /s/ sound is also repeated in the first sentence, a sound that mimics the harshness of the winter landscape.
All in all, this figurative language underscores the profound and noticeable transformations that occur with the changing seasons. By attributing human-like actions and characteristics to nature, Grahame creates a vivid and memorable depiction of winter. The narrator's description here also aligns with his portrayal of nature throughout the novel. The natural world serves as the primary setting for the adventures and interactions that take place in the novel. The novel's rivers, meadows, forests, and bucolic countryside are not only sources of beauty but also allow the novel's characters to form connections with others.
Throughout The Wind in the Willows, Mole, Rat, and other characters consistently find themselves subject to nature's whims. The Wind in the Willows depicts nature as a powerful and ever-changing force that has a significant impact on the characters' lives. Yet it is also a place of harmony and an overall balanced existence; eventually, Mole, Rat, and Toad find solace, peace, and fulfillment in their natural surroundings.
Related Themes:
Chapter Five
Explanation and Analysis—Alliteration:
Author Kenneth Grahame uses alliteration multiple times throughout the novel. For example, in the beginning of Chapter 1, the narrator uses alliteration to describe Mole's movements as he cleans up his home for spring:
So he scraped and scratched and scrabbled and scrooged, and then he scrooged again and scrabbled and scratched and scraped, working busily with his little paws and muttering to himself, ‘Up we go! Up we go!’ till at last, pop! his snout came out into the sunlight, and he found himself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow.
The /sc/ sound is repeated eight times in the above passage. The repetition of the /sc/ sound reflects Mole's repeated efforts to ascend from underground while also creating a sense of continuity and persistence. This sense of persistence fittingly mirrors Mole's determination to climb up and emerge into the world above. By incorporating this repetition of sound, Grahame effectively conveys Mole's experience to the reader in a descriptive and evocative manner. Grahame's use of alliteration also adds a layer of vividness to the narrative, allowing the reader to feel more connected to Mole's journey and the challenges he faces along the way.
The narrator also uses alliteration multiple times in Chapter 5 to describe the sight of a bird in its cage:
On the middle perch the fluffy occupant, head tucked well into feathers, seemed so near to them as to be easily stroked, had they tried; even the delicate tips of his plumped-out plumage were pencilled plainly on the illuminated screen.
In the passage above, note how the /p/ sound is repeated in the words "plumped-out," "plumage," "pencilled," and "plainly." This repetitive use of the /p/ sound creates a soft, rhythmic quality in the language. The alliteration of the /p/ sound in the phrase "plumped-out plumage" draws attention to the plumpness and fullness of the bird's feathers, while /p/ sound in the phrase "pencilled plainly" underscores the precision and clarity with which the tips of the bird's feathers are illuminated on the screen.
All in all, the whimsical tone of this alliteration aligns with the novel's genre and mood. By incorporating such linguistic techniques, Grahame adds a touch of playfulness and enchantment to the narrative, which all in all enhances the reader's experience and enjoyment of the novel.
