What literary device refers to the recurrence of similar sounds made by repeated consonants in words?

The correct answer is consonance, which specifically refers to the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words in close proximity. This device creates a musical quality and can enhance the mood or tone of a piece of writing. Consonance is often used in poetry and prose to establish rhythm or emphasize certain ideas or themes.

While other literary devices relate to sound, they differ in their specific characteristics. For instance, assonance involves the repetition of vowel sounds, not consonants. Rhyme typically deals with the correspondence of sounds at the end of lines or phrases, primarily focusing on both vowel and consonant sounds. Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words. Each of these devices contributes to the overall sound and rhythm of language, but consonance is distinct in its focus on similar consonant sounds regardless of their position in the words.