Recap
An antecedent is the word, phrase or clause that comes before the referent that points back to it. A referent is ambiguous when it could refer to more than one antecedent. Repetition emphasises ideas or associations. Alliteration repeats a sound at the start of nearby words, to emphasise those words and their associations. In each case, say what the feature does in this poem.
Key relationships
| Idea | What it is | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Antecedent | The earlier word that a later word refers back to | Where is it, even if it is in the title? |
| Referent | What a pronoun or phrase points to | Is it clear? |
| Ambiguous referent | Could point two ways | What does each reading mean? |
| Repetition | A word or phrase that returns | What changes with each return? |
| Alliteration | The same sound at the start of nearby words | Which words are linked, and why? |
| Word choice | A particular word rather than another | What does it add that another word would not? |
What you may assume
- Features of words and sounds are chosen by the writer, but their effect depends on context.
- A title can be part of a poem’s meaning and can serve as an antecedent.
- A claim about sound is a claim about reinforcement, not about sound alone.
Mistakes to avoid
- Naming “alliteration” or “repetition” without saying what it does.
- Missing an ambiguous pronoun, or giving only one reading.
- Treating the same letter as the same sound.
- Claiming a sound means something in every poem.
- Forgetting the title when looking for an antecedent.
Key terms
- Antecedent: the earlier word that a later referent points back to.
- Referent: what a pronoun or phrase refers to.
- Repetition: a word or phrase that returns for emphasis.
- Alliteration: repeated sound at the start of nearby words.
Sentence frames
- “The pronoun ‘…’ could refer to … or …, which leaves ….”
- “The repetition of ‘…’ stresses ….”
- “The repeated … sound in ‘…’ reinforces ….”
Mini-example
Words: “clasps … crag … crooked”. Sound: repeated hard k. Reinforces: the tight grip of the eagle on rock.
How questions ask about this
- “The pronoun … most likely refers to …”: find the antecedent, and notice any second possible reading.
- “The repetition of … serves to …”: say what it emphasises or what associations it gathers.
- “The alliteration in … most directly …”: tie the sound to the meaning of the words.
- Constructed response: name the feature, quote the words and explain what it does in this poem.
Quick self-check
- In “Anna told Lucia she had lost it”, name the ambiguous referent and its two possible meanings.
- What do the repeated k sounds in “clasps the crag with crooked hands” reinforce?
- Where does the “He” in the first line of “The Eagle” find its antecedent?
Answers.
- “She” could mean Anna or Lucia.
- The picture of a tight, hard grip on the rock.
- In the title, “The Eagle”.
Full explanations are in the study guide. Try the practice questions next.