“The Bells,” a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe, conveys a cheerful tone through distinct sounds and repetition of words. A profoundly onomatopoeic poem, “The Bells” proceeds after each stanza. Mainly, alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia in the poem produce a happy tone; but, towards the end of the poem, the sound devices help to establish a darker tone. In each stanza the bells are made of a different metallic substance. In the first stanza the bells are described as silver. In this case the bells are pleasant, precious and robust. Additionally, the bells represent the stages of life. The first stanza explains a man's happy childhood. The golden bells in the second stanza are an example of a man's love life through marriage. The bronze bells in the third stanza depict the terror of a human's life through aging, and the iron bells in the fourth stanza show the mourning and death of a human. To satisfy the sense of excitement and happiness during the first stanza, Poe uses repeated words and consonants, long vowels, and imitation of sounds. Alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia all contribute to the joyous and cheerful tone of “The Bells”. Edgar Allen Poe's alliteration and repetition of words support the flow and musicality of the poem. Poe begins with the alliteration of the m sound in “mirth” and “melody” (3). The soft m sound, also known as the liquid consonant, helps maintain a rapid and continuous rhythm in the poem. Likewise, the alliteration of the s sounds in sleighs, silver, stars, and seems, emphasizes the calming sounds of the bells (1-2, 6-7). The s sound helps express the calming and comforting effects of the bells, essentially contributing to the cheerful tone of the poem. Also, the alliteration of t...... middle of the paper ......em. Through the use of alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia, “The Bells” expresses a cheerful tone. As the poem progresses, the sounds change to suggest a progression of life. In the first stanza, or the beginning of life, Poe's alliterated words help the poem flow. In sequence, the flow of the poem helps illustrate the delight of the silver bells and their jingle. Poe also includes the long assonance to show the joyous sound of the bells. The short E sound also contributes to the cheerful and delightful tone because it justifies the cheerful melody created by the bells. In conclusion, onomatopoeia supports the musicality of the poem. Poe uses words like tinkle and tintinnabulation to imitate the ringing of bells. Ultimately, Edgar Allen Poe conveys a happy tone in “The Bells” through the use of alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia.