Read the following Emily Dickinson poem, and then answer the following questions.
A narrow fellow in the grass Occasionally rides; You may have met him, — did you not, His notice sudden is. The grass divides as with a comb, A spotted shaft is seen; And then it closes at your feet And opens further on. He likes a boggy acre, A floor too cool for corn, But when a boy and barefoot, I more than once, at morn, Have passed, I thought, a whip-lash Unbraiding in the sun, — When, stooping to secure it, It wrinkled, and was gone. Several of nature's people I know, and they know me; I feel for them a transport Of cordiality; But never met this fellow, Attended or alone, Without a tighter breathing, And zero at the bone. What sound device(s) does Dickinson employ in the phrase, “too cool for corn—” as well as in the line, “But when a boy and barefoot”? Choose all that apply.
In the phrase "too cool for corn," as well as in the line "But when a boy and barefoot," Emily Dickinson employs a few sound devices:
1. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words occurs in both instances. In "too cool for corn," the 'c' sound is repeated, and in "But when a boy and barefoot," the 'b' sound is repeated. Alliteration helps to create a rhythm and musical quality to the poem.
2. Assonance: There is also the repetition of vowel sounds within words, although it is not as strong in these examples as the alliteration. You might argue for a subtle assonance in the long "o" sound in "too cool for" but it's not as pronounced.
Dickinson's use of these sound devices contributes to the lyrical quality of her poetry and can help to emphasize certain phrases or concepts within her work.