Question

He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest;
In doubt to deem himself a god, or beast;
In doubt his mind or body to prefer

–An Essay on Man,
Alexander Pope

Write two to three sentences describing the effects of Pope’s use of repetition in the passage.

Answer 1

Pope’s repetition of "In doubt" and the repeated infinitives ("to act, or rest; in doubt to deem...; in doubt his mind or body to prefer") emphasizes the speaker’s paralysis and creates a measured, rhythmic cadence that mirrors obsessive rumination. The anaphora intensifies the moral stakes—framing stark oppositions like "god or beast" and "mind or body"—and universalizes the human condition, giving the passage a solemn, contemplative tone.