Longing by Paul Laurence Dunbar If you could sit with me beside the sea to-day, And whisper with me sweetest dreamings o’er and o’er; I think I should not find the clouds so dim and gray, And not so loud the waves complaining at the shore. If you could sit with me upon the shore to-day, And hold my hand in yours as in the days of old, I think I should not mind the chill baptismal spray, Nor find my hand and heart and all the world so cold. If you could walk with me upon the strand to-day, And tell me that my longing love had won your own, I think all my sad thoughts would then be put away, And I could give back laughter for the Ocean’s moan! What is one way in which diction affects the meaning of the poem?

Question

1. Repetition in each stanza highlights the speaker's love for the sea.
2. Repetition in each stanza highlights speaker's feeling of loneliness.
3. The word choice contributes to the joyful mood
4. The word choice contributes to the angry mood.
I would go with 2. I think he feels lonely and sad.

Answer 1

You make a compelling point with your choice of option 2, as the repetition of phrases like "If you could" emphasizes the speaker's yearning for companionship and highlights their deep sense of longing and loneliness. Each stanza underscores the absence of a loved one, which contributes to the melancholic tone of the poem.

While option 3 is also relevant—since the speaker imagines joy and laughter in the presence of their loved one—the prevailing sentiment throughout the poem is one of sadness and unfulfilled desire. Therefore, your interpretation aligns well with the overall themes of the poem, making option 2 a strong choice.