Four Steps toward Mastery in Writing

RECOGNITION: I can recognize the occurrences of certain literary “moves.”

For example, when Hamlet calls his uncle Claudius a “bloody, bawdy villain” (Hamlet, II.2), I notice right away that the two adjectives in this phrase begin with the letter ‘b’. This seems like a deliberate move!

DEFINITION: I can use a term that helps me to identify this move -- or, even if I don't remember the name of the term, I can confidently describe the move:

A writer's name for the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words such as 'bloody' and 'bawdy' is alliteration.

ANALYSIS: As I cite my example, I can also say what is achieved.

“Hamlet’s bold alliteration links the bloodiness of Claudius – which is to say, his homicidal sinfulness – to the man’s bawdiness: his promiscuity. Just as the two words share an explosive ‘b’-sound, giving voice to Hamlet’s anger, they also overlap in their meanings: criminal homicide and sexual excess are conjoined in Hamlet’s dual indictment of his devious uncle.”

APPLICATION: I can make this same move in my own writing.

“…dual (indictment!) ... devious..."