¶ … Noiseless Patient Spider
Read "A Noiseless Patient Spider." By Walt Whitman
Then list the repeated words from both parts of the poem
As indicated by the question, the poem is comprised of two fairly short paragraphs. There are two words that are obviously repeated in the first stanza and those would be "mark'd" and "filament." The words of the second stanza that stand out are "surrounded," "till" and "O my soul." "
Then, jot a note or two about why you think the poet used repetition.
In the case of "filament" that is clear a reference to the fact that an actual spider web is an array of many, many threads of spider silk. The use of "mark'd" is probably a reference to how significant this spider's practice is given its vast surroundings and how it continues about its business of spinning webs. In the second stanza, the focus on the vast space is continued but the repeated word become "surrounded." He is saying much the same thing in both stanzas but in a different and unique way.
What effect does the repetition have on a reader?
Some may differ, but Whitman seems to be using the repetition as a way to make a focal point and to deliver a theme. Both stanzas point to the vastness of the space as compared to the size of the spider. There is also a clear focus on the repeated, methodical and uninterrupted manner in which the spider behaves.
What effect does the repetition have on you?
Beyond the obvious, the author of this response compare the size of humans to the vastness of space and the universe. Perhaps that was Whitman's point (or part of it) given his use of the word "spheres." "
Journal - Whitman
Whitman sets the scene with the title and a few words and then pounds on particular words so as to get the reader's focus where he wants it. His use of repetition in concert with his repeated focus on the vastness of the spider's domain is obvious. One sterling example is where it says "surrounded, surrounded in measureless oceans of space." He is basically saying that the...
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