Question

What element of modernist poetry is evident in this excerpt from the poem, "Poetry" by Marianne Moore?

Hands that can grasp, eyes
that can dilate, hair that can rise
if it must, these things are important not because a

high sounding interpretation can be put upon them but because
they are
useful. . .

A.There is a strict meter and rhyme.
B.There is an abcb rhyme scheme.
C.The sentences fall across multiple stanzas.
D.The theme of loneliness is obvious.

Answer 1

I believe its because it falls across multiple lines without obvious breaks. The line breaks are important because the first word of each line gets emphasis. So, I would say A, but one could argue C.

Answer 2

C. The sentences fall across multiple stanzas.

Step-by-step explanation:

Modernist poetry is characterized for not following any strict meter or rhyme scheme, and instead, for experimenting with style, syntax and the structure of lines and stanzas. The fact that the sentences of the poem fall across multiple stanzas, do not follow any particular pattern and that there is a natural flow of the author's thoughts are signs of the modernist nature of the poem.