The repitition of the short i sound in "still unravished" emphasizes the meaning of those words and suggests the speaker's first impression of wonder at the ancient urn's pristine state, while the long i that predominates suggests the serenity and self-possession that it exudes.
Hamilton, Essential Literary Terms (198-225) -- Jerz: EL150 (Intro to Literary Study)
While I did know that a lot of thought and consideration went into the writing of poetry--as with all forms of writing--I never really realized how much until I read this assignment. There is so much that goes into the writing of poetry that I never really knew about. It is amazing how something as seemingly simple as repeated consonants or vowel sounds can affect the meaning behind the poem to such an extent.
I have to say, this section was a daunting one to read. Because there was so much I didn't know, I had to reread multiple sections a few times before I could grasp the concepts--and some I still have yet to grasp. It was a relief everytime I came across a word I recognized.
Comments (3)
I felt the same way. This section was almost like algebra in words, trying to count the syllables and measure the levels of stressed and unstressed. I swear, the Pythagorean theorem was easier!
Posted by HallieGeary | February 25, 2007 7:10 PM
Posted on February 25, 2007 19:10
I didn't && I agree - this section of Hamilton cleared up a lot of stuff.
Posted by Kayla | February 25, 2007 9:10 PM
Posted on February 25, 2007 21:10
Yeah. I thought writing poetry was hard before all this rhythm and meter business was brought into the big picture. Now it's like whoa!
Posted by Bethany Bouchard | February 27, 2007 4:30 PM
Posted on February 27, 2007 16:30