Sound

Sound is very important in the “flow” of a poem. Depending on which devices authors decide to use, creates a smoother path for the poem to follow. Authors use literary devices including enjambment, rhyme scheme, meters, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, and many more to create in-depth analysis of certain parts of poetry. For example, in “To An Athlete Dying Young”, Housman utilizes many end rhymes to create his own personal rhythm. His rhyme scheme, iambic tetrameter, allows his poem to flow line to line creating a soothing ring to the overall sound of the poem. Also, Housman uses many caesura techniques in this poem. Caesura is a pause somewhere within a line of poetry, which allows the reader to pause (or take a breath), while reading the poem. Authors personalize this scheme simply to create their own flow (pattern) they want readers to follow while reading their respective poetry.