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Alliteration in Porphyria's Lover

Alliteration Examples in Porphyria's Lover:

Porphyria's Lover

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"Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:..."   (Porphyria's Lover)

Browning makes heavy use of alliteration in this line. Four of the six words here begin with b. This use of abundant alliteration within such a rhythmic line was a central feature in Anglo-Saxon verse and served as the equivalent of rhyme. Here the use of rich alliteration—along with the repetition of the liquid consonants r and l—conveys the rush of blood to Porphyria’s face as well as the violence of the moment.

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