Let’s practise an essay question on Emily Dickinson’s Like Rain it sounded till it curved from our mock papers.
Comment on the rhythm in Like Rain it sounded till it curved.
It’s important to have learnt the iambic patterns beforehand. Here’s a brief summary:
Iamb: Like Rain [da-DUM], it sound, -ed till, it curved
Like rain | it sound | -ed till | it curved
We call it ‘iambic tetrameter’ (four groups of iambs)
And then | I knew | 'twas Wind—
Next, we have ‘iambic trimeter’ (three groups of iambs)
The shift from iambic tetrameter to iambic trimeter is a feature of Common Meter, which Emily Dickinson loves to use.
Common Meter:
- iambic tetrameter to iambic trimeter
- Rhyme scheme: ABAB
To answer the question, make sure you understand the themes of the poem.
Themes: transformation, menace of nature, nature’s indifference to human sufferings
Suggested answer:
The use of common meter adds to the authority of the poem, making the speaker’s reflection on nature in the final three lines more profound and pensive.
Also, the use of common meter imitates the movements of the wind, which changes constantly in the poem as does the rhythm of the poem.
*Send us a message on IG. We’ll then send you the complete suggested answer.