Question

Identify the rhetorical devices in the following sentence and state what they add to the reading: "The Shaper's assistant, cradling the old man's polished harp, sings of Hoc and Hildeburth and Hnaef and Hengest, how Finn's thanes fought with his wife's dear kinsmen and killed king Hnaef, and a terrible thing ensued."

Answer 1

The sentence in question uses personification and repetition as rhetorical devices. The personification adds relatability to the inanimate object, while the repetition creates a parallel structure and emphasizes certain ideas.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rhetorical devices in the sentence are personification and repetition. In the sentence, the Shaper's assistant is described as 'cradling the old man's polished harp' which gives the inanimate object human characteristics, making it relatable. The mention of 'Hoc and Hildeburth and Hnaef and Hengest' and the repetition of 'and' in the following phrases create a parallel structure and build emphasis.