Edward

Edward
Anonymous

In this poem, structure plays a key role in building suspense towards the climax of the poem. In each stanza, the poet repeated the question (1st and 3rd lines) and also repeated the answer (5th and 7th lines).  Repeating the question built the anticipation for the answer to each question posed. By repeating the answer to each question, the poet reiterated the response to each question posed.  These repetitions made the poem longer, but they also emphasized important points in each stanza. By removing the repeated lines, the poem flows smoother but lacks emphasis previously placed on certain phrases. "The curse of hell from me shall ye bear, Mother, Mother, The curse of hell from me shall ye bear" (Anonymous). In this quote, the reader can comprehend that Edward is cursing his mother, but repeating the phrase adds emphasis to this bitter phrase. This repetition also provokes pathos from the reader for the mother. She lost her husband, her son is leaving, and her son cursed her. Pathos for each of these saddening events is doubled by repeating each phrase expressing the event.