Beat! beat! drumsl-blow! bugles! blow! Through the windows-through doors-burst like a ruthless force,
Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,
Into the school where the scholar is studying;
-Walt Whitman, "Beat! Beat! Drums!"
Which statement best explains how the alliteration in this excerpt from a
poem about the Civil War contributes to its meaning?
A. The repetition of the "b" sound in line 1 creates an exciting sound
to argue that if people work together they can stop the war
B. The repetition of the "s" sound in line 4 creates a soft sound that
represents regular life in contrast to the exciting sounds of war
C. The repetition of the "s" sound in line 4 creates the rhythm of
soldiers' marching feet in order to suggest that scholars need to
enlist in the army
D. The repetition of the "b" sound in line 1 creates a soothing sound
that makes readers feel that the war will be quick and easy