Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor –
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark,
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard,
Don’t you fall now –
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t no crystal stair.

Which rhetorical device has been used by the poet by repeating “And” at the beginning of many lines in the poem?

The correct option is Anaphora.

Detailed Explanation:
Anaphora is a rhetorical device characterized by the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines of poetry. It is used to create rhythm, build emotional intensity, and emphasize a particular theme or idea.

In this poem ("Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes), the speaker repeats the word "And" at the start of several consecutive lines:
"And splinters
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor –"
And again later in the poem:
"And reachin’ landin���s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark,"

This persistent repetition of "And" at the beginning of these lines is a textbook example of anaphora. It emphasizes the cumulative nature of the mother's hardships and her ongoing, step-by-step journey through a difficult life.

Why other options are incorrect:
- Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words (for example, "safe and sound"). It does not refer to repeating entire words at the start of successive lines.
- Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show emphasis (for example, "I've told you a million times").
- Amplifier is a grammatical term for a word that increases the intensity of another word (such as "totally" or "completely"), and is not a rhetorical device representing line-initiating repetitions.