Question

The repeated exclamations, appeals and questions of lines one and three of the first stanza give it an urgency and pathos. This is contrasted with the ____ of lines two and four.

Answer 1

The first stanza's urgency and pathos are contrasted with the reflective and contemplative tone of subsequent lines, which is a technique used to evoke different emotional responses and guide the reader through the poem's thematic journey.

Step-by-step explanation:

The repeated exclamations, appeals, and questions of lines one and three of the first stanza in poetry give it an urgency and pathos, contrasted with the reflective and contemplative tone of lines two and four. Initially, the audience feels directly addressed as the speaker divulges something important, creating a sense of immediacy. As the poem progresses, however, the tone shifts to a more inquisitive and contemplative nature, where the speaker appears to be pondering questions to themselves rather than speaking to the audience. This movement between tones is a common technique in poetry to create layering of emotions and to guide the reader through the poet's thought process.

These shifts in tone are often also reflected and enhanced by changes in the poem's rhythm and structure. For example, moving from enjambed lines to end-stopped lines can cause the reader to slow down and reflect, mirroring the speaker's shift in tone. Additionally, the use of alliteration and repeated sounds can influence the mood and guide the reader's emotional response. The tone and rhythm work in conjunction to deliver the poem's thematic elements and to evoke a specific reaction from the reader.

Answer 2

The contrast in the first stanza of the poem lies between the urgency and pathos of lines one and three and the contemplative tone of lines two and four. As the poem progresses, the tone becomes more reflective and introspective, whilst poetic techniques like alliteration and rhythm enhance the reader's emotional engagement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The repeated exclamations, appeals, and questions of lines one and three of the first stanza give it an urgency and pathos. This is contrasted with the more contemplative and introspective tone of lines two and four. While the first stanza establishes a direct address to the audience, creating an immediate connection, the successive stanzas transition into a more reflective and inquisitive tone as the speaker contemplates his experiences and feelings. The conversational opening with its sense of urgency and pathos deliberately moves into a subtler, more contemplative tone as the poem progresses. The speaker's tone becomes inquisitive, marked by the posing of questions, which adds to the shift in voice and modulation of emotion.

Throughout the poem, we witness various poetic techniques such as alliteration and rhythm that serve to amplify the sensory experience and emotional resonance. The rhythm, in particular, plays a subtle yet critical role in invoking emotional responses from the reader. By the conclusion of the poem, there is an intentional casualness, a seeming inconsequence that stands in stark contrast to the intensity of the earlier stanzas, suggesting that after significant moments, all else fades in significance.