Which of the following is described as a structural feature of The Prelude?

• A. Enjambment increases pace
• B. The use of a formal rhyme scheme
• C. A thematic refrain at line endings
• D. The presence of a chorus

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how The Prelude is structured to carry its long, reflective narrative. The work is built around a steady, inward voice that comments on events, memories, and growth as the poem unfolds. That continuous, guiding voice acts like a chorus, providing a unifying commentary across the many episodic moments of the speaker’s youth and later insight. It helps knit together the wandering sections of the poem, giving a sense of cohesion even as the poet moves through different times and scenes.

Enjambment is present and helps the flow, but the poem is not built on a formal rhyme scheme, and there isn’t a literal refrain that returns at line endings. The idea of a recurring chorus—an ongoing, reflective voice that frames and ties the poem together—best fits how The Prelude holds its structure in place.