In poetry, what does "alliteration" refer to?

The concept of alliteration specifically involves the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words. This literary device is often used in poetry to create rhythm, enhance musicality, and draw attention to particular phrases or ideas within a poem. For instance, phrases like “She sells sea shells” exemplify alliteration due to the repeated "s" sound at the beginning of each key word.

Understanding that alliteration focuses on the consonants at the start of words helps distinguish it from other literary devices. Choices focusing on vowel sounds, rhyme schemes, and specific metrical arrangements like iambic pentameter pertain to different elements of poetry. Each of these serves unique roles, but they do not define alliteration, which is distinctly about the consonants initiating the words.