Final answer:
In literature similar to 'The Lord of the Rings', poetic devices such as imagery, alliteration, and metaphor are commonly used. For instance, in Tennyson's 'The Lady of Shalott,' vivid descriptions, repetitive sounds, and comparative language provide depth and rhythm to the poem, creating an immersive experience for the reader.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poetic device used at the beginning of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' is often debated because the novel itself isn't written in verse. However, when discussing the poetic devices found in literature akin to Tolkien's work, one may refer to examples like the poem in Lord Tennyson's 'The Lady of Shalott.' This particular poem employs several poetic devices including imagery, alliteration, and metaphor. These devices create vivid pictures, enhance the rhythm through repetition of sounds, and compare two unlike things to add deeper meaning, respectively.
For example, the lines from 'The Lady of Shalott':
A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley-sheaves,
The sun came dazzling through the leaves
And flamed upon the brazen greaves Of bold Sir Lancelot.
Here, imagery is strongly employed as the scene is described in a way that paints a picture in the reader's mind using details that appeal to the senses. We can almost visualize Sir Lancelot riding with the sun shining on his armor. The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words, as seen in 'bower-eaves,' 'barley-sheaves,' and 'brazen greaves,' is an example of alliteration, which adds musicality to the poem. Moreover, by likening Sir Lancelot's shining armor to the sun, the poem crafts a metaphor that compares the knight's nobility and heroism to the grandeur and brilliance of the sun.