The final two stanzas create ambiguity in the poem by leaving questions unanswered and the theme of the song undetermined, reflecting the often ambivalent nature of emotions and relationships. This ambiguity is supported by structural elements and poetic symbols that enrich the text, together with a shift in tone that deepens the reader's contemplation.
The final two stanzas of a poem often serve to conclude the narrative or the thematic exploration. However, when these stanzas create ambiguity, it is usually intentional, allowing readers to derive multiple meanings and to ponder upon their personal interpretations of the poem.
This kind of ambiguity is a poetic device that engages readers, encouraging them to grapple with the text and insert their own experience and understanding into the interpretation. The options provided suggest different ways that ambiguity can be established.
For instance, the speaker asking questions that go unanswered (ambiguity) or expressing confusion about the theme of a song might leave the reader without clear resolution (unresolved confusion).
Discussing the last two stanzas, if the speaker sees the maiden again and expresses his emotions without receiving a clear response about the theme of the song, this can create an ambiguous ending that prompts readers to question what the song—and by extension, the poem—really means. Such deliberate ambiguity mirrors the complexity of emotions and relationships, as oftentimes feelings are ambivalent rather than straightforward.
From a structural perspective, paying attention to the line structure, rhyme patterns (such as 'a b a b c d d ce fe f'), and the use of poetic symbols deepens the readers' engagement with the text. Symbols like a loom or a river might have general meanings but can take on specific significance within the poem that contributes to its ambiguity. The conversational tone that transitions into more contemplative or inquisitive (inquisitive tone) can also affect how the ambiguity of the poem is perceived by a reader.