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Alliteration

Alliteration refers to words that begin with the same sound, not necessarily the same letter.

e.g. one wonderful woman with nine naughty knights!

However,

                      Alliteration should be used
                      in moderation, and not abused

Actually, it depends on the type of poem being written. If you want the children to make a deliberate feature of alliteration, such as in a tongue-twister, then by all means let them try to squeeze in as much as they can.

When wizards and witches want windier weather When witches and wizards want wind with a whiz We waggle our wands and we wangle our whooshers We wind up our woomsticks and wheeeeeeeeee . . . . . there it is.
	MJ

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This rhyme demonstrates something of the craft of writing poetry (or perhaps I should say 'poetry'). This verse wasn't written, it was constructed, put together, assembled. It contains not only a great deal of alliteration, but also rhyme, meter, assonance, onomatopoeia and new words. For all its triviality, it is the result of going over the piece again and again until I decided it was the best I could do with that idea.

For more about creating new words, see Volume 4, Language and Performance .

But, back to alliteration.

Writing activity

Make up sentences that the children must finish off with an alliterative word or phrase.

For example, My Mum made me: (mow the lawn; mop the floor; make the beds; miss my bus; mad)

If a child or group can come up with enough of these, it's worth being on the lookout for a chance to put some together.

My Mum made me miss my bus, My Mum made me mop the floor, My Mum made me make the beds, My Mum made me mow the lawn. My Mum makes me mad.
	MJ

Other possible starters:

Fiona found; Hector hates; David doesn`t; Cartoon cats can; Make your own up.

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