Which device best defines anaphora in poetry?

• A. Repetition of a word at the end of lines
• B. Repetition of the same word or phrase at the start of successive lines or clauses
• C. Use of rhetorical question
• D. A type of metaphor

Answer: (B)

Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or phrase at the start of successive lines or clauses. This technique creates emphasis and a chant-like rhythm, helping to unify ideas and push a message forward. For example, a poem might begin several lines with the same word: “Hope is... Hope is... Hope is.” That repetition at the beginning builds momentum and makes the line feel like a mantra.

Repetition at the end of lines signals a different device, not anaphora, so it’s not the best match here. A rhetorical question is a separate figure of speech, not a repetition pattern. And a metaphor is a figure of speech that equates two things, not a repeating structural device.