Question

Read these lines from "Annabel Lee" and answer the question.

And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

What sound device(s) does the poet use in these lines? Select all that apply.

onomatopoeia to mimic the calmness of the sea
repetition to create a haunting effect
consonance to emphasize the finality of death
a change in end rhyme in the last four lines of the poem

Answer 1

I believe that the only one of these is true is repetition to create a haunting effect. I know for certain that the first and last answers are not true.

Answer 2

The poet is using repetition to create a haunting effect. The first time repetition is used is through repeating the phrase "my darling" and ending both of the lines with the word "sea". A different way to use repetition also done by the repetition of an idea. A sepulcher is an area where a corpse is buried, and so is a tomb, so the final two lines have the same meaning.

The change in end rhyme from the first two lines to the last two lines is also different. It changes the focus of the poem from mourning a laid corpse to the place in which she will be laid to rest.