Characters making extensive use of alliteration? (8)
I believe the answer is:
literati
'characters making extensive use' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'of alliteration?' is the wordplay.
'of' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'LITERATI' is hidden within 'alliteration'.
(Other definitions for literati that I've seen before include "scholars" , "Men and women of letters" , "The intelligentsia interested in writing and reading" , "The bookish intelligentsia" , "Well-educated readers" .)