Final answer:
The correct answer is option b) Anaphora.
Step-by-step explanation:
Langston Hughes utilizes the literary device of anaphora in his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." Anaphora is defined as the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines for rhetorical effect. An example from Hughes' poem is the repetition of the phrase "I've known rivers" at the beginning of multiple lines. This repetition serves to emphasize the connection between the speaker and the rivers, underscoring the theme of continuity and depth, elements that are lifelong and ancient.
While alliteration is also a form of repetition, it concerns the initial consonant sounds in words, and hyperbole is an exaggerated claim not meant to be taken literally. A simile is a comparison using 'like' or 'as,' which is different from anaphora. Thus, the correct answer to the literary tool used by Hughes is anaphora.