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Frame repetition

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A structural device where identical or similar lines or phrases appear at both the beginning and end of a poem or section, creating symmetry.

Detailed Definition
The technique of placing matching phrases, lines, or structural elements at the beginning and end of a poem or section to create bracketing effect and structural coherence. This framing establishes boundaries, creates sense of return and completion, and often emphasizes the material within the frame through contrast or reinforcement. The repetition signals formal closure while allowing the framed content to develop freely between fixed opening and closing points.
Example
Example in poetry:
Frame repetition: opening and closing with identical stanza—“The woods are lovely, dark and deep”; In ballads, refrain frames each narrative turn; A poem beginning and ending with “Listen” to create circular meditation; Contemporary examples use repeated lines to show changed perspective; Frame repetition provides structural unity and thematic echo.
Additional Notes
Matching phrases or lines at beginning and end of poem or section. Creates structural coherence and sense of return. Can suggest completion, circularity, or thematic unity across the poem.
Also Known As
Bracket repetition Bookend device Frame echo Terminal repetition Epanadiplosis
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