Final answer:
The sentence 'There was a knight, a most distinguished man' utilizes alliteration, which is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words. It's exemplified by the similar 'k' sounds in 'knight' and 'most.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The literary device used in the sentence "There was a knight, a most distinguished man" is alliteration. Alliteration is characterized by the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words. In this case, the words "knight" and "most" start with the same 'k' sound, creating the alliterative effect. Alliteration is often used to create rhythm or a sense of unity in writing. It does not match with the definitions or examples of the other options given, which include hyperbole (exaggeration for effect), personification (giving human characteristics to non-human objects), and anaphora (repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses).