Why Do Authors Use Repetition

What is Repetition in Poesy

Repetition is a rhetoric device which includes repeating a sound, word, phrase, or line. Repetition tin be classified into dissimilar types. Given beneath are some of these classifications.

Repetition of a Word

Anaphora: Repetition of a certain give-and-take or phrase at the starting time of several succeeding clauses or phrases.

"Five years have passed;
5 summers, with the length of
Five long winters! and again I hear these waters…"

– William Wordsworth,"Tintern Abbey"

Epiphora: Repetition of a sure word or phrase at the terminate of successive clauses

"If you lot did know to whomI gave the ring ,
If you did know for whomI gave the band
And would conceive for whatI gave the band
And how unwillingly I leftthe band "

– William Shakespeare, "Merchant of Venice"

Polyptoton: Repetition of the words derived from the same root.

"The Greeks are strong, and good to their strength, Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant;"

– William Shakespeare, "Troilus and Cressida"

Anadiplosis: Repetition of the last word/phrase of one line as the commencement word of the next line.

"The frog was a prince

The prince was a brick

The brick was an egg

The egg was a bird."

– Genesis, "Supper'south Fix"

Repetition of a Audio

Assonance: Repetition of a vowel sound in adjacent or closely connected words

He felt desperate and restless.

Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds in adjacent or closely connected words

All mammals named Sakare clammy.

Ingemination: Repetition of a consonant sound at the commencement of adjacent or closely connected words

B ut abetterbutter makes abatterbetter.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Why Do Poets use Repetition

Unlike poets apply repetition for dissimilar purposes. Some of these functions of repetition include calculation emphasis, setting a rhyme, and making a poem memorable.

Adding Accent

Repetition has the power to brand even a unproblematic sentence sound like a dramatic one. When a certain word or phrase is repeated throughout the poem, the reader would notice it more easily and pay more than attention. For example, allow's accept an extract from Emily Dickinson's "I'm nobody! Who are you lot?"

I'one thousand nobody! Who are y'all?

Are you nobody too?

So there's a pair of the states-don't tell!

They'd banish u.s.a. you know.

The poet uses the repetition of the word 'nobody' to stress on the point of principal significance.

Setting Rhythm

Repetition can enhance the beauty and musicality of a verse as well. Some poets employ repetition to prepare the rhythm of the poem, in the absence of rhyme. For example,

Betty Botter bought some butter, but, she said, the butter's bitter;

If I put it in my batter it volition make my batter bitter,

But a bit of better butter will make my batter better.

Repetition can add emphasis to a poem; it tin can also add rhythm and musicality. However, also much repetition can make also brand a poem seem a poem disjointed and repetitive. Thus, you lot should always be careful when using repetition in a poem.

Image Courtesy:

"Gustave Dore Ancient Mariner Illustration" By Gustave Doré – Unknown (Public Domain) via Eatables Wikimedia

Most the Writer: Hasa

Hasa has a BA degree in English, French and Translation studies. She is currently reading for a Masters degree in English language. Her areas of interests include literature, language, linguistics and as well food.