The sentence 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers' is an example of which figure of speech?

• A. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
• B. Hyperbole
• C. Onomatopoeia
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (A)

This sentence showcases alliteration—the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in neighboring words. Here, the 'p' sound starts many words in a row: Peter, Piper, picked, peck, pickled, peppers. That repeated initial sound gives the line its musical, tongue-twister quality.

Hyperbole is exaggeration used for emphasis, which this sentence doesn’t do. Onomatopoeia describes a word that imitates a sound, like buzz or boom. Metaphor makes a direct comparison between two unlike things, often without using like or as. None of those ideas are what this sentence uses; the effect comes from repeating the consonant sound at the start of several words.