Final answer:
Assonance (option c)is a literary technique characterized by the repetition of vowel sounds in a string of four or more words, which creates a rhythmic effect and contributes to the mood of the text.
Step-by-step explanation:
A literary technique that uses repetition of sounds in a string of four or more words is known as assonance. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within a string of words to create a harmonious or rhythmic effect. This can be seen in the works of poets like Edgar Allan Poe, who used assonance in his poem "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary...". By repeating the 'ea' sound, Poe creates a specific mood and sound pattern which helps to enhance the reader's experience.
Identifying assonance is important when analyzing poetry and prose, as it often contributes significantly to the work's overall tone and aesthetic quality. Other rhetorical devices that involve repetition include alliteration, which is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, and consonance, which is the repetition of consonant sounds at the end of words. Unlike assonance, these focus on consonant sounds rather than vowel sounds.