Madrigal echo is a poetic device derived from Renaissance madrigal music, where a line or phrase is immediately repeated by an “echoing” voice—often represented typographically or through alternating speakers—to dramatize doubt, longing, or internal dialogue; in verse, it creates a call-and-response structure that enacts psychological fragmentation or spiritual inquiry, as in Donne’s “Song: Go and catch a falling star,” where the echo amplifies irony and existential uncertainty.

Madrigal using echo effects between voices. Renaissance technique. Related to refrain. Study tip: Notice repeated words/phrases bouncing between lines like musical echo.