What is anaphora?

Anaphora is defined as the repetition of a word or a phrase at the beginning of successive lines or sentences. This literary device is often used to create emphasis and a sense of rhythm in a piece of writing, enhancing its emotional impact and making it more memorable. By starting multiple phrases with the same words, authors can draw attention to a specific idea or theme, setting a tone that resonates with the reader.

For instance, Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech uses anaphora effectively by repeating the phrase "I have a dream" at the beginning of several sentences, which not only highlights his vision but also unifies the message and stirs the audience's emotions.

The other options describe different literary techniques but do not capture the specific nature of anaphora. Vivid language, metaphors, and rhetorical questions serve distinct purposes in writing and speech, illustrating various strategies for expression, but they do not involve the structural repetition characteristic of anaphora.