What is a plosive consonant and what is its effect?

A plosive consonant is an abrupt sound made by closing the mouth then releasing a burst of breath. The plosive consonants in English are B, P, T and D. Their effect, especially when used repeatedly is to create a verbal reflection of events, items or emotions which have a harsh feel. For example anger, a car crash or a gun. They are more effective when used in poetry due to the increased intensity of focussed language, but can also be significant when used in prose.