Repetition is one of the most important tools in the poet’s arsenal. It can be used to emphasize a point or to create a rhythm, but it also conveys meaning through its ability to draw attention to a specific idea. As Whitman said, “No labor is wasted: none is vain.” Let’s explore the various ways repetition is used in poetry and the effects it can have.
1.Rhythm and Music
Rhythm and music are key components of many poems. Repetition is a powerful tool that can be used to establish and enhance the rhythm of a poem. It also helps set the tone and emotion of the work. Repetition of words, phrases and sounds in poetic lines can also create a musical effect that captivates readers. Repetitive phrases like “In the misty morning” can create a sense of mystery. Similarly, the repeating of sounds at the ends of words, such as the “ing” sound in “Whisper-ing through the grass,” can lend a sense of comfort and tranquility.
2.Clarify and Emphasize a Point
Repetition is often used to clarify an idea or thought, or to emphasize its importance. This can also help hold the reader’s attention, acting as a sort of mini-cliffhanger that piques their curiosity and encourages them to keep reading. By repeating a phrase multiple times, the poet can draw attention to the importance of that phrase and ensure that it sticks in the reader’s mind. Repetition can also be effective in creating vivid imagery in the reader’s mind. For example, Robert Frost famously wrote: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” The repetition of the phrase “miles to go before I sleep” reinforces the idea of a journey that has yet to be completed, helping the reader to visualize the scene.
3.Create a Mood
Repetition is often used to create a certain mood or atmosphere in a poem. The repetition of words and sounds can evoke a feeling of sadness, joy, fear, or any other emotion. In many poems, the poet will use repetition to create an unsettling atmosphere, such as in T.S. Eliot’s “The Wasteland.” Here, Eliot repeats the phrase “fears in lone lands” over and over, creating an eerie tone that captures the mood of the poem. Repetition can also be used to build momentum within a work, helping to create a sense of urgency and excitement.
4. Build Structures and Connect Ideas
Repetition can also be used to help create structure within a poem, as well as to draw connections between different ideas and images. A poet can create structure within a work by repeating phrases and words throughout the poem, such as in Langston Hughes’ “Dream Variations”:“To fling my arms wide/ In some place of the sun.” This repetition of phrases helps to tie the poem together, creating an overall sense of structure and coherence.
5.Rhymes
Rhyme is another form of repetition that is often used in poetry. Rhyme can help create musicality and rhythm within a poem, as well as helping to draw attention to a particular thought or sentence. Rhymes can be used to emphasize a point, such as in Robert Burns’ “To a Mouse”: “The best-laid schemes o’ mice and men/ Gang aft a-gley.” In this example, the rhyme emphasizes the idea that things don’t always go as planned.
6.Use Repetition to Evoke a Response
Finally, repetition can be used to evoke an emotional response from the reader. The repetition of certain phrases and words can help to stir up emotions within the reader, such as sadness or anger. The poet can use this to convey strong messages about certain topics, such as social inequality or injustice. In Adrian Mitchell’s “To Whom It May Concern (Tell Me Lies About Vietnam),” the repetition of the phrase “tell me lies” conveys a sense of frustration and disbelief that is difficult to ignore.
7. Explore Different Types of Repetition
There are many different types of repetition that poets can use. Repetition of certain words or phrases can help to emphasize an idea or evoke an emotional response, while rhythms and rhymes create music and structure within the poem. Repetition is a powerful tool that can help poets convey their ideas and feelings in a powerful way. It is important to explore the different types of repetition and practice how they can be used to enhance and clarify your work.
8. Enhance and Clarify
Repetition can be used to enhance and clarify the meaning of a poem, as well as to evoke a strong emotional response from the reader. Repetition of certain words, phrases, and sounds can set the tone and emotion of a poem and help emphasize a point. Repetitive structures and rhymes can help create coherence and structure within the poem. It is important to explore the different forms of repetition and how they can be used to create an effective and impactful poem.
9. Use Repetition to Engage the Reader
Repetition is an effective tool that poets can use to not only engage their readers, but also to convey their own feelings and meanings within their work. By repetition of words, sounds, and rhymes, readers can be captivated and compelled to keep reading. Repetition can help create vivid imagery and deepen the emotive response of a poem, making it more effective and powerful. It is important for poets to explore the various types of repetition and how they can be used within their work.
10. Employ Repetition to Create a Lasting Impression
Finally, repetition can be used to create a lasting and powerful impression on the reader. By evoking an emotional response from the reader, and by emphasizing certain phrases and words, poets can create a lasting impact in the minds of their readers. Repetition can bring a poem alive and draw attention to the most important elements within it. It is important to explore different forms of repetition and how they can be used to create an effective and powerful poem.
