Which statement correctly describes alliteration?

• A. Repetition of initial consonants.
• B. Repetition of vowel sounds.
• C. Rhyme at the ends of lines.
• D. Use of metaphor to compare two things.

Answer: (A)

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words, which creates rhythm and emphasis in a line. This is exactly what repetition of initial consonants describes, as in phrases like "Sally sold seashells by the seashore" where the same S sound starts multiple words. Repeating vowel sounds would be assonance, not alliteration. Rhyming at the ends of lines refers to end rhyme, and using a metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison. So the statement about repeating initial consonants captures the essence of alliteration.