What literary device involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words?

Alliteration is the literary device characterized by the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are in close proximity to one another. This device is often used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, enhance mood, or emphasize particular phrases. For example, phrases like "wild and woolly" or "brittle battles" effectively highlight the sounds, giving a musical quality to the text. By using alliteration, writers can draw attention to specific ideas or create a lyrical effect that captivates the audience’s attention.

The other options refer to different literary devices. Onomatopoeia involves words that phonetically imitate the sound they describe, like "buzz" or "bang." Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as," while a simile does make that comparison using "like" or "as." Each of these serves a unique purpose in writing but does not specifically involve the repetition of initial consonant sounds as alliteration does.