Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

What literary device involves a series of words that start with the same sound?

1. Alliteration

2. Assonance

3. Personification

4. Metaphor

The correct answer is: Alliteration

Alliteration is a literary device that involves the repetition of the same initial sound in a series of words. This technique is often used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, enhance the musicality of language, and emphasize particular phrases or themes. For example, phrases like "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" showcase this repetition, making the language more engaging and memorable. The other options represent different literary devices. Assonance, for instance, involves the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words, not the initial consonant sounds. Personification attributes human qualities to non-human entities, while metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things without using "like" or "as." These distinctions clarify the unique nature of alliteration as a tool for enhancing the auditory quality of literature through consonant sound repetition.