Question

Calls out his name in a voice so like his mother’s, a startled tear splashes the tip of his right boot. my mother, my love in death. the general remembers the tiny green sprigs men of his village wore in their capes to honor the birth of a son. he will order many, this time, to be killed for a single, beautiful word. –"parsley," Rita Dove. what effect does the white space between the stanzas have in this excerpt from "parsley"? a. it adds a detail to the general’s memory. b. it adds emphasis to the final line. c. it reveals why the general acts as he does. d. it reveals the meaning of the "single, beautiful word."

Answer 1

The white space in Rita Dove's "parsley" adds emphasis to the poem's final line, serving to create a pause that amplifies its impact.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the excerpt from "parsley" by Rita Dove, the white space between stanzas serves a crucial role. It primarily functions to add emphasis to the final line of the poem. This is a typical technique in poetry to manipulate the reader's pacing and focus. White space can signal a pause for reflection or a shift in tone or theme. In the context of Dove's poem, the white space before the last line could be intended to give the reader a moment of silence to absorb and reflect on the preceding emotional imagery, and then to amplify the impact of the chilling revelation about the word 'parsley' and its dark associations in the poem.