Question

Difficulty: MediumSound Devices and Euphony

Read the excerpt below and complete the accompanying literary analysis by filling in the missing terms.

Answer:In the poetic line 'Softly the summer breeze sighs through the silver weeping willows', the prominent repetition of the hushing 's' sound is specifically termed 【sibilance】, while the overall melodious and pleasing acoustic effect created by these soft sounds is known as 【euphony】.

Answer

blank_1: sibilance, blank_2: euphony
The line utilizes sibilance through the repeated soft 's' sounds, which collectively generate a soothing, melodious auditory effect defined as euphony.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the specific phonetic repetition of the 's' sound in the poetic line.
The repeated 's' sound (Softly, summer, breeze, sighs, silver) creates a specific sound device called sibilance.
Sibilance is a specialized form of alliteration involving soft fricative sounds, predominantly the 's' sound.
2
Determine the overarching aesthetic sound quality generated by these combined acoustic elements.
The smooth, soft combination of liquid and fricative sounds produces a pleasant, harmonious effect termed euphony.
Euphony refers to the acoustic phenomenon where words and sounds are combined to create a soothing, agreeable effect on the ear.

Key Concept

Identification of Sibilance and Euphony in Poetic Analysis
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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