Sound and Sense #13

Chapter 13

1.       The better version (a) has the same number of syllables in both lines. It also includes the parallel structure of “your guide” and “your guard”.

2.       Version b is better because it uses the harsh b and d sounds in the second line and uses “Apollo” instead of “Phoebus”, which is a softer sound to accompany the description of music.

3.       Version b is better because it is more cacophonous in describing the harsh croaking. Also, it uses consonance with the “c” sound and the harsh “s” sound.

4.       Version b is better because the first line is more euphonious with the assonance in “low” and “voice” and the rhyming of “bells” and “tells”. Moreover, the assonance with “twilight” and “silent” adds to the pleasantness of the bells.

5.       Version b is better because the soft m and r sounds accompanies the repetitive sound of nature and portray a sense of flowing since the sounds are repeated in all three lines.

6.       Version b is better fitted to the meaning because the lines are discussing the harsh singing of a bird, and the hard sounds of “warbles”, “discordant tones”, and “doleful” emphasize that meaning.

7.       Version b is better because the b and t sounds emphasized in the first line complement the words all describing weapons.  The repetition of the st sound serves the same emphasis in the second line.

8.       Version a is better because the repetition of the soft s sound in both lines accompany the image of hands washing something. Moreover, since the sound is repeated many times, it complements the idea that the hands of Death and Night do this action over and over again.

9.       Version b is better because it uses the soft ll sound in the first line and is more euphonious in the following three lines with the alliteration in the third line and the parallel structure of “to darkness” and “to me” in the last line. Since these lines are describing a calm scene, the lines should be euphonious.

10.   Version a is better because it uses more cacophonous sounds to describe this despicable bug. In the first line alone he uses the hard ch, st, g and b sounds.