Repetition

Repeated words or lines in poetry create emphasis (make an idea stand out).  Similar to the chorus of a song, repetition shapes the sound of the poem.

Repetition can create a feeling in the reader of annoyance, anger, suspense, fear, or joy.


Excerpt from "The Charge of the Light Brigade"                 

     Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell;


Strong Iron Hands

     Anonymous

Strong iron hands
Grip the strong iron hammers
And pound the strong iron spikes
Into strong iron rails
That stretch for strong iron miles
For the strong iron cars
That follow strong iron engines
In a strong iron rocking
Through the strong iron night.

They match the strong iron promise
In my strong iron soul
Of my strong iron love
for only you.

In "The Charge of the Light Brigade", the repetition of "cannon" right, behind and left builds a feeling of suspense and fear.


In the second poem, the repetition of the words "strong iron" emphasizes the speaker's love. The last line without the repetition creates a sense of intimacy.