Question

Which line includes an example of parallelism?

Option 1: But I shall be good health to you nevertheless/ And filter and fibre your blood
Option 2: I celebrate myself and sing myself,/ And what I assume you shall assume,
Option 3: They are alive and well somewhere,/ The smallest sprout shows there is really no death
Option 4: I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,/ Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong.

Answer 1

Option 2 ('I celebrate myself and sing myself,/And what I assume you shall assume') from Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself' demonstrates parallelism with its repeated structures and mirrored phrases.

Step-by-step explanation:

Parallelism in Poetry

Parallelism in literature is a rhetorical device characterized by the use of similar grammatical structures in two or more parts of a sentence. It enhances the readability and aesthetic appeal of prose or poetry. Looking at the given options, Option 2 is an example of parallelism: 'I celebrate myself and sing myself,/And what I assume you shall assume'. This line from Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself' exhibits parallelism through the repetition of structure in the phrases 'I celebrate myself' and 'and sing myself', as well as in the mirrored assumption in 'what I assume you shall assume'. This literary technique provides emphasis, rhythm, and a sense of balance to the lines, making them particularly memorable and musical.