Question

Which answer best describes the effect of alliteration in the following line from Yeats' "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"?

a) He used the "l" sound to remind the readers of lollipops and lullabies.
b) The "l" sound is there for emphasis.
c) By repeating the "l" sound, the poet is striving to create a gentle, lulling effect that imitates the musicality of the waves.
d) The "l" sound just happens to be there; the poet did not intend any significance.

Answer 1

Alliteration in Yeats' poem serves to create a gentle, lulling effect, enhancing the poem's serene and musical qualities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effect of alliteration in the line from Yeats' "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is best described as a technique to create a gentle, lulling effect that imitates the musicality of the waves. By repeating the "l" sound, Yeats engages the auditory senses of the reader to evoke the poem's serene atmosphere. Similar to how alliteration is used in other literary works, the poet employs this stylistic device to enhance the sensory experience, creating a musical quality that parallels the content of the poem, which often involves nature and its tranquility.