How did Lucretius use alliteration and assonance in his poetry?

Lucretius utilized alliteration and assonance as key stylistic elements in his didactic poem, On the Nature of Things. These techniques were part of his broader effort to translate the abstract Greek prose of Epicurus into Latin hexameters during a period when the Latin language lacked a formal philosophical vocabulary.12

By incorporating these phonetic devices alongside archaic forms and old constructions, Lucretius drew inspiration from earlier Latin poets, most notably Quintus Ennius. His use of alliteration and assonance helped provide a rhythmic and stylistic structure to his complex arguments regarding the atomic universe, sense perception, and the nature of the soul. These literary choices were essential in establishing the tone of his work, which sought to convey profound philosophical truths with both intellectual rigor and poetic intensity.12