To identify assonance in the given quotes, we must look for the repetition of vowel sounds within the words. Assonance is a common literary device used to create rhythm and enhance the musical quality of language.
Gayle tapped a finger on the sack of book in her lap.
In this sentence, the 'a' sound is repeated in 'tapped', 'sack', and 'lap'. Therefore, the repeated sound is 'a'.
I sipped the rim with palatable lip.
Here, the 'i' sound is repeated in 'sipped', 'rim', and 'lip'. Thus, the repeated sound is 'i'.
A gallant knight in sunshine and in down.
The 'i' sound is repeated in 'gallant', 'knight', 'in', and 'shine'. Therefore, the repeated sound here is 'i'.
Understanding assonance helps in appreciating the nuances in poetry and prose. Authors use it to create subtle harmonies within their work, which can affect the mood and tone of the writing.