Which statement best explains the effect of the sestina structure in Elizabeth Bishop's "Sestina"? The sestina structure makes t
he poem feel like it is from the past, which adds weight to the author's words. The sestina structure makes the poem feel like a playful puzzle, but adds nothing to the meaning of the poem. The repetition of the last word in each line creates a reflective rhythm and tone in the poem while also making significant words easily recognizable. The repetition of the last word in each line makes the tone of the poem feel flat and unaffected, suggesting the hopelessness of each of the characters.
C. <span>The repetition of the last word in each line creates a reflective rhythm and tone in the poem while also making significant words easily recognizable.
The words that are repeated at the end of one stanza and the beginning of the next are: house, tears, child, almanac, grandmother, stove. These words are very important to the overall meaning and tone of the poem, so their repetition makes them easily recognizable as significant. Also, the reflective style mirrors the mood of (self) reflection in the poem and makes the rhythm match the tone. </span>
