Repetition of initial consonant sounds.

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Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words. This device gives a musical, rhythmic feel and can make phrases more memorable or forceful. For example, in a line like “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” the repeating p- sound at the starts of successive words is exactly alliteration, which is why that option is the right one for describing this pattern.

Assonance points to repeating vowel sounds, not consonants, so it wouldn’t capture the focus on initial consonants. Consonance is about repeating consonant sounds as well, but not necessarily at the beginnings of words, and can occur inside or at the ends of words, so it isn’t limited to the initial-position effect. Internal rhyme involves rhyming sounds within a single line rather than the placement of consonants at the starts of words. The emphasis here on initial consonant repetition makes alliteration the best fit.