Think of it as internal rhyming, but focusing on vowels.
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.
* "The old crow flew over the oak tree" - Repetition of the "o" sound.
Assonance can be used to:
* Create a mood: Soft vowel sounds can evoke feelings of calm, while harsh sounds might create tension.
* Emphasize certain words or ideas: By highlighting specific vowel sounds, you can draw attention to them.
* Make writing more poetic or rhythmic: Assonance adds a musical quality to language.
It's important to note that assonance is about the *sound* of words, not their spelling. Words with different spellings can still create assonance if they have the same vowel sound.
Let me know if you have any other questions!