Assonance is a literary device where vowel sounds are repeated in nearby words, even if the consonants are different. It creates a sense of rhythm and musicality in writing.
Here are some examples:
* "The cat sat on the mat." (repetition of the short "a" sound)
* "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain." (repetition of the long "a" sound)
* "Try to light the fire." (repetition of the long "i" sound)
While assonance focuses on vowel sounds, there's also consonance, which focuses on the repetition of consonant sounds.