Which term is defined as the repetition of initial consonant sounds?

Which term is defined as the repetition of initial consonant sounds?

• A. Onomatopoeia
• B. Rhyme
• C. Alliteration
• D. Meter

Answer: (C)

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words, which creates a musical feel and helps emphasize those words. For example, in “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” the “p” sound starts many words in a row, giving the line a catchy rhythm. This is different from onomatopoeia, which are words that imitate actual sounds (like “buzz” or “clang”). It’s also different from rhyme, which pairs ending sounds (like “cat” and “hat”), and from meter, which is the rhythm pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables across a line.

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words, which creates a musical feel and helps emphasize those words. For example, in “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” the “p” sound starts many words in a row, giving the line a catchy rhythm. This is different from onomatopoeia, which are words that imitate actual sounds (like “buzz” or “clang”). It’s also different from rhyme, which pairs ending sounds (like “cat” and “hat”), and from meter, which is the rhythm pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables across a line.