Which literary technique involves successive words beginning with the same sound?

Study for the GACE Reading Exam. Dive into comprehension and analysis with curated questions designed for success. Each question provides hints and detailed explanations. Get equipped for your exam!

The literary technique that involves successive words beginning with the same sound is alliteration. This device is commonly used in poetry and prose to create rhythm and musicality in the language, enhance moods, and make phrases more memorable. For example, phrases like "wild and woolly" or "better butter" showcase how the repetition of initial sounds can draw the reader's attention and emphasize certain ideas or themes.

In contrast, metonymy refers to a figure of speech where one thing is represented by another that is closely related, such as using "the crown" to refer to royal authority. Simile is a comparison between two different things using "like" or "as," creating vivid imagery (e.g., "as brave as a lion"). Synecdoche, on the other hand, involves using a part of something to represent the whole, such as referring to workers as "hands." These techniques serve other functions in literature, but they do not involve the repetition of initial sounds as alliteration does.

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