Question

Read the excerpt from "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death." I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death. Which statement best describes the effect of the repetition in this excerpt? The repeated words emphasize the speaker's desire to live and return to Ireland. The repeated words highlight the idea that it doesn't matter whether he lives or dies. The repeated words show that the speaker had a promising future ahead of him. The repeated words reinforce the speaker's lack of emotional attachment to his homeland.

Answer 1

The repeated words highlight the idea that it doesn't matter whether he lives or dies.

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Answer 2

The answer is:  The repeated words highlight the idea that it doesn't matter whether he lives or dies. 

Sometimes writers use repetition to emphasize points on their written work. In this example, the character is neither afraid to live nor die in the presence of his homeland. The repetition of words exaggerates his disinterest in both life and death.