What is the repetition of vowel sounds in stressed syllables followed by different consonants called?

The repetition of vowel sounds in stressed syllables followed by different consonants is known as assonance. This literary device is often used in poetry and prose to create a musical quality or to enhance the mood of a piece. Assonance specifically focuses on the internal sounds within words, where the same vowel sound recurs to link words together, establishing a rhythm or a feeling of unity.

For example, in the phrase "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain," the repetition of the vowel sound in "rain," "Spain," and "plain" demonstrates how assonance functions to weave sound patterns that can evoke emotional responses or reinforce thematic elements in the text.