Longfellow repeats the line “the tide rises, the tide falls” throughout his poem. What idea is he trying to emphasize about the difference between nature and human life through this repetition?

Answer 1

Throughout what poem?

Answer 2

The poem "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" by Henry Wadsworth Longfelllow.

Answer 3

Repetition is usually used to emphasize an important point. In this case, remember that the tide rises and falls 1.5 or 2 times each day.
http://www.centralcoastweather.net/SanSimeon/GetSanSimeonTides.asp

Each rise and fall indicates approximately half a day. The repetition indicates that life goes on, no matter what else happens.

This may help, too.
http://thetiderises.weebly.com/

Answer 4

The repetition, "The tide rises, the tide falls," suggests the continuous motion of the sea. This supports the theme that human life and works are transitory. This poem presents the perspective of an old traveler who is standing on the verge of death. The poet presents the never-ending rise and fall of the tides in contrast with the finite journey of the traveler to show the mortality of life, as in the line "The day returns, but nevermore
/Returns the traveler to the shore." The constant rise and fall of the tides emphasize the reoccurring cycle of life in the universe, where people are born, go through different phases of life and then silently leave. Also, time washes away the spots of their existence. However, what stays in the minds of the readers is the impacts of the transience of life and eternity of the tides.