Final answer:
Emerson's four-line stanzas emphasize a fixed rhyme scheme and order, while Whitman's one long stanza reflects a forward flow of rhythmic language, matching the expansive and unrestrained nature of their respective poems' themes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structural choices made by Emerson and Whitman in their poems can likely be attributed to the poets' intentions regarding rhythm and thematic expression. Emerson's use of four-line stanzas reinforces a fixed rhyme scheme, giving his work a sense of order and predictability.
This structure can be seen to mirror the disciplined and orderly thoughts that Emerson might be presenting. In contrast, Whitman's choice of one long stanza in his works, such as Leaves of Grass, helps to convey a sense of the forward flow of his rhythmic language, reflecting the continuous and unrestrained nature of life and personal experience.
Whitman's poetry, often characterized by natural and urban elements, showcases his success in blending cultural forms to the requirements of an evolving nation. His unique use of rhythm, despite the absence of strict rhyme and meter, creates a voice that is honest and comforting in its simplicity, yet grand in scope, connecting the common with the magnificent.
Option B best explains why Emerson and Whitman may have chosen their respective structures: Emerson wanted to emphasize his fixed rhyme scheme, whereas Whitman wanted to emphasize the forward flow of his rhythmic language.
This structural choice aligns with the content and tone of their poems, as Emerson's structured stanzas reflect his philosophical ideas, and Whitman's unbroken stanza mirrors his expansive view of the world and the individual's place in it.