Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping - rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-
Only this and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
This it is and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping - tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you - here I opened wide the door:-
Darkness there and nothing more.
What is the effect of the last stanza mimicking the first?
Responses
A The speaker, disturbed from his sleep, is angered at the sudden tapping.The speaker, disturbed from his sleep, is angered at the sudden tapping.
B The tapping has become more dramatic, but the speaker has grown disinterested.The tapping has become more dramatic, but the speaker has grown disinterested.
C The speaker, while initially upset, is now calm in his approach to the tapping.The speaker, while initially upset, is now calm in his approach to the tapping.
D The tapping, which was seemingly innocent, is now seen as mysterious by the speaker.