Alliteration in The Darkling Thrush

The consonance in this line is beautiful. The alliterative repetition of b and its consonant pair p (a b is simply a voiced p) is striking, as is the repetition of liquid consonants: l andr. The source of the “blast” is unclear—perhaps wind—but the image is that of a frail, weathered bird who offers hope despite the harsh, wintry conditions.

Hardy creates a beautiful turn of phrase here. The image of a cloud bank burying the earth is elegant, as is Hardy’s use of alliteration. The alliterative use of “c” rings out. The use of liquid consonants—r and l—gives the phrase some connective tissue, as do the pair of p sounds.