COURSE: BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (ARTS WITH IT)

UNIT CODE: ALI 102

Drawing from the following poem “Noise” by J. Pope, discuss the effective use of sound patterns.

Noise - By Jessie Pope

I like noise.
The whoop of a boy, the thud of a hoof,
The rattle of rain on a galvanized roof,
The hubbub of traffic, the roar of a train,
The throb of machinery numbing the brain,
The switching of wires in an overhead tram,
The rush of the wind, a door on the slam,
The boom of the thunder, the crash of the waves,
The din of a river that races and raves,
The crack of a rifle, the clank of a pail,
The strident tattoo of a swift slapping sail.
From any old sound that the silence destroys
Arises a gamut of soul-stirring joys.
I like noise.

Sound devices are techniques writers use to make sound more prominent in a piece of writing. These
devices make poetic writing have a different mien in comparison with prose writing. Sound devices

Page 1 of 4
can create a feeling of unity between lines or even create a specific atmosphere, which can be joyful,
light-hearted, gloomy, etc.

Jessie Pope's poem "Noise" is a good example of the effective use of sound patterns to create a certain
mood and atmosphere. She effectively uses sound patterns to create a vivid and memorable reading
experience. Throughout the poem, Pope uses a variety of techniques to create different sound patterns
that add to the meaning and impact of the words. The poem is structured around a series of sounds that
are both literal and figurative. Some of the sound patterns she employs in the poem include:
onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, consonance, repetition and rhyme.
 Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a literary device in which words imitate the sounds associated with the objects or
actions they refer to. It is a word that sounds like the thing it describes. For example, the word "buzz"
imitates the sound of a bee, "hiss" imitates the sound of a snake, and “clang" imitates the sound of
metal hitting metal. Onomatopoeia is often used in poetry and prose to create vivid imagery and
sensory experiences for the reader.
Pope uses onomatopoeia as one of the most striking sound patterns in the poem. Throughout the poem,
she uses words that imitate the sounds they describe, such as "whoop," i.e. “the whoop of a boy”,
“clank", i.e. “the clank of a pail” and "crash" i.e. “the crash of the waves”, directly mimicking the
sounds they describe, making the reader feel more immersed in the experience. The onomatopoeia in
the poem “Noise” are: thud, whoop, rattle, hubbub, roar, throb, thunder, boom and crash. These words
are not only descriptive, but they also create a sense of immediacy and urgency, as if the reader is
actually hearing the noise that the poem describes. By using words that mimic the sounds they describe,
Pope creates a more immersive and sensory experience for the reader, making the noise feel more real
and immediate.
 Alliteration
Another prominent sound pattern in the poem is alliteration, which is the repetition of consonant
sounds at the beginning of words. Alliteration is also the repetition of the same sound at the start of
a series of words in succession, whose purpose is to provide an audible pulse that gives a piece of
writing a lulling, lyrical or emotive effect.
Pope uses alliteration throughout the poem, for instance in the lines where she writes, “whoop of a
boy”, thud of a hoop”, “rattle of rain”, “roar of a train”, “throb of machinery”, “switching of wires”,
“rush of the wind” and “boom of the thunder”.
Other examples employed include:
Rattle of rain (r)
Swift slapping sail (s)
Races and raves (r)
The use of alliteration highlights certain words, ideas and creates a rhythm that can be felt by the reader
both intellectually and emotionally. By using alliteration, Pope gives the poem additional rhetorical
weight and make it more memorable for the reader.
 Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of the vowel sound across words within the lines. The words have to be
near enough to each other that the similar vowel sounds are noticeable. Assonance refers to the
repetition of vowel sounds within a line in poetry, of the poem creating internal rhymes. The sounds
are repetitive whether at the beginning of, in the middle or at the end. Often, assonance appears when

Page 2 of 4
there are stressed syllables following each other. It helps to place emphasis on the words, enhances
memorization and also creates a more melodic flow to the poem. Pope also uses assonance, to create
a more melodic flow to the poem. A more pleasant and lyrical sound to the poem is created, which
helps to convey the message. The poem uses assonance to create a sense of unease and discomfort. In
the phrase "crash and clash of crashing cymbals" uses assonance to create a jarring, discordant effect.
The repeated "a" sound is unsettling and disorienting, and it reinforces the sense of chaos and confusion
in the poem. Other examples include, the “oo” sound in “whoop” and “hoop”, the “uh” sound in
“hubbub” and “thunder”, and the “ai” sound in “rain” and “sail”. This assonance helps to create a sense
of rhythm and energy in the poem, making it more enjoyable to read.
 Consonance
Consonance is the repetition of a consonant sound in words, phrases, sentences, or passages in poetry,
prose and verse writing. It is used to create a pleasing rhythm and to emphasize certain words. In
Pope’s poem “Noise”, the consonant sounds of “th” and “d” are used to create a pleasing rhythm. For
example, the lines “The whoop of a boy, the thud of a hoop,” and “The hubbub of traffic, the roar of a
train,” emphasize the sound of the consonants and create a pleasing sound. Additionally, the
consonance of the “b” sound in the lines “The boom of the thunder, the crash of the waves,” and “The
crack of a riffle, the clank of a pail,” emphasizes the words and creates a sense of energy. The use of
consonance in this poem is therefore effective in creating a pleasing rhythm and emphasizing certain
words.
 Repetition
Finally, the poem uses repetition to great effect in the poem to create a sense of accumulation and
intensity. In the final stanza, the repeated phrase "I like noise" emphasizes the relentless, unending
nature of the noise. The repeated phrase “I like noise " creates a sense of urgency and insistence, as if
the speaker is trying to drive home a point. Additionally, the repeated use of the word "noise" in the
final stanza emphasizes the permanence and inescapability of noise, making it clear that it is a constant
presence in our lives. The repetition creates a kind of auditory overload that mirrors the overwhelming
nature of the noise itself. This repetition of sound creates a sense of chaos and disruption, which is
reflective of the theme of the poem.
 Rhyme
Rhyme is the repetition of syllables, typically at the end of a verse line. Rhyming words conventionally
share all sounds following the word's last stressed syllable.
The rhyming words in the poem “Noise” include:
a. boy/hoop
b. roof/throb
c. train/brain
d. tram/slam
e. waves/races
f. pail/sail
g. joys/noise
The effectiveness of these rhyming words is to create a musical quality to the poem and make it more
memorable. The repetition of sounds creates a pattern that adds to the rhythm of the poem and adds
emphasis to certain words. For example, the repetition of the “o” sound in “whoop,” “hoof” and
“numbing of the brain” creates a musical quality that draws the reader in. Additionally, the rhyming

Page 3 of 4
words create a sense of cohesion in the poem. The repetition of the “oi” sound in “noise,” “joys,”
“hoop,” “galvanized roof,” and “pail” creates a sense of unity among the various noises described in
the poem. Overall, the use of rhyming words in this poem adds to its musicality and creates a sense
of unity among the various noises described, emphasizing the poet’s love for all types of noise.

Conclusion
Jessie Pope's use of sound patterns in "Noise" is very effective in creating a sense of chaos, confusion,
and discomfort. The poem's use of onomatopoeia, alliteration, consonance, assonance, and repetition
all contribute to the poem's overall mood and atmosphere. In conclusion, Jessie Pope's poem "Noise"
effectively uses sound patterns to create a vivid and impactful reading experience. Through the use of
alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance and repetition, Pope is able to create a sensory and immersive
experience that emphasizes the harsh, sharp, and inescapable nature of noise.

Page 4 of 4