Question

How does Wheatley's break in the iambic meter in the two places marked with a star help to emphasize the feeling of sorrow she captures in her poem?

Answer 1

Wheatley's use of a break in the iambic meter, marked with a star, creates a momentary disruption in the flow of the poem's rhythm. This technique is known as a metrical substitution or a metrical variation.

In Wheatley's poem, this metrical variation occurs in lines 3 and 7, which are marked with a star (*). Here are those lines with the variations highlighted:

And, sighing, bid it [peaceful] rest

And, hush'd in [calm and silence] sleep.

These variations create a sense of hesitation or interruption in the poem's otherwise steady iambic meter. The effect is to draw attention to the words that are emphasized by the variation, in this case "peaceful" and "calm and silence."

The variation in line 3 ("And, sighing, bid it peaceful rest") emphasizes the idea of rest and peace, which is appropriate for a poem about death and mourning. The variation in line 7 ("And, hush'd in calm and silence sleep") similarly emphasizes the idea of calm and silence, which also fits with the poem's mournful tone.

By using these metrical variations, Wheatley is able to create a subtle shift in the poem's rhythm that draws attention to key words and ideas. This helps to reinforce the sense of sorrow and mourning that pervades the poem.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Wheatley's break in the iambic meter helps to emphasize the feeling of sorrow by creating a sense of disruption and disorientation. The disruption of the meter creates a sense of unease and confusion, which reflects the emotional turmoil of the speaker. The disruption also serves to draw attention to the words that follow, allowing the reader to focus on the sorrowful sentiment of the poem. By breaking the meter, Wheatley is able to emphasize the sorrowful feeling of the poem and create a more powerful emotional impact.