* Both are widely used: Both alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds) and assonance (repetition of vowel sounds) are common poetic devices. They add musicality, emphasis, and memorability to poetry.
* Dependence on the poem: The prevalence of either depends heavily on the specific poem, its style, and the poet's intent. Some poems may heavily feature alliteration, while others might emphasize assonance.
* Subjectivity of analysis: Even within a single poem, identifying instances of alliteration and assonance can be somewhat subjective, depending on the interpretation of the reader.
Examples:
* Alliteration: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" uses the repetition of the "p" sound.
* Assonance: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" uses the repetition of the "ai" vowel sound.
Conclusion: Rather than focusing on which is more common, it's more valuable to appreciate the unique effects each device brings to poetry. Both alliteration and assonance contribute to the richness and beauty of the language.