Final answer:
A refrain at the end of a poem is not obligatory and depends on the poet's intentions and poetic style. The use of a refrain and the poem's rhyming pattern are stylistic choices that contribute to the poem's rhythm, emotional impact, and thematic expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing whether poetry should have a refrain at the end, the best response is 3) It depends. A refrain is a repeated line or group of lines that can contribute to the overall structure and thematic unity of a poem. Whether a poem includes a refrain or not is a stylistic choice made by the poet and it can vary greatly depending on the poem's purpose, form, and the poet's individual style.
Regarding the structure of poetry, identifying the rhyming pattern and observing potential variations like refrain is crucial to understanding the poet's methods for creating rhythm and emphasis. Poets may choose to use refrains and rhyme schemes to set the mood, underscore themes, or construct a musical quality in their verse. For instance, the presence of refrains can provide a sense of familiarity and resonance within the poem, similar to the chorus of a song, thereby enhancing the poem's emotional impact or highlighting key themes.
To evaluate the effectiveness of these elements within a poem, it is essential to analyze formal patterns, rhythm, and the overarching effect of these aspects. In the context of modernist texts, departures from traditional poetic structures, such as a looser rhyme scheme or lack of refrain, can be used to convey complex emotions and ideas, reflecting the ambiguity and fragmentation often found in modern life.
Therefore, while a refrain can enhance a poem, its inclusion is not mandatory and depends on the poet's stylistic choices and the intended impact of the poem.