Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

What literary device describes the use of unstressed syllables at the beginning of a verse?

1. Anapestic

2. Anadiplosis

3. Anacrusis

4. Anaphora

The correct answer is: Anacrusis

The correct answer is the term that specifically refers to the addition of one or more unstressed syllables at the beginning of a line of poetry. This device, anacrusis, typically serves to establish the rhythm or flow before the regular metrical pattern begins. In poetry, this technique can create a sense of anticipation and can enhance the musicality of the verse, allowing for variations in meter that enrich the reading experience. In contrast, the other options refer to different literary and poetic devices. Anapestic describes a metrical foot that consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable, which is not specific to the beginning of a verse. Anadiplosis involves the repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause, focusing on continuity rather than rhythm at the start of a line. Anaphora is a device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines, which relates to thematic emphasis rather than the rhythm introduced at the beginning of a verse. Therefore, the unique function of anacrusis in poetic meter distinguishes it as the correct answer.