Rhyme in The Black Cat

Poe crafted this particularly chewy phrase by recycling consonant pairs. The letters “c” and “g” form a consonant pair—the latter being the voiced version of the former. The liquid consonants “r” and “l” are twins as well; we produce them using similar flicks of the tongue. When spoken, the effect of these recycled consonant sounds, thick with liquids, is a somewhat sticky, revolting sensation—perfect for the image at hand.

This sentence is built upon a rhythmic string of consonant sounds, namely b, p, d, and t. The consonance is enhanced by Poe's manipulation of consonant pairs. Each consonant has its pair: a voiced or unvoiced version of the same sound. For example, pronounce a “p.” Then pronounce it again while activating your vocal cords. You’ll find the “p” has turned to a “b.” The same is true with “t” and “d.” By lacing the sentence with these pairs, Poe greatly enhances its musicality.