read the excerpt from \missing in action\ by thanhha lai. this day mother prepares an altar to chant for his…

read the excerpt from \missing in action\ by thanhha lai. this day mother prepares an altar to chant for his return, offering fruit, incense, tuberoses, and glutinous rice. she displays his portrait taken during tét the year he disappeared. how peaceful he looks, smiling, peacock tails at the corners of his eyes. what is the effect of using mostly short line lengths in the first stanza? it introduces a repeated idea that underscores how the atmosphere of the household is tense. it develops a slow rhythm that highlights how the speaker is sympathetic to her mother. it creates a continuous thought, as it presents the idea that rituals must be followed carefully. it builds the intensity, as it emphasizes the importance the family places on honoring a family member.

read the excerpt from \missing in action\ by thanhha lai. this day mother prepares an altar to chant for his return, offering fruit, incense, tuberoses, and glutinous rice. she displays his portrait taken during tét the year he disappeared. how peaceful he looks, smiling, peacock tails at the corners of his eyes. what is the effect of using mostly short line lengths in the first stanza? it introduces a repeated idea that underscores how the atmosphere of the household is tense. it develops a slow rhythm that highlights how the speaker is sympathetic to her mother. it creates a continuous thought, as it presents the idea that rituals must be followed carefully. it builds the intensity, as it emphasizes the importance the family places on honoring a family member.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

Short line lengths in poetry can create a sense of intensity and focus. In this stanza, the mother is preparing an altar with care (offering fruit, incense, etc.), and displaying the portrait of a missing family member. The short lines build up the significance of each action, emphasizing how important honoring the family member is. It's not about a repeated idea (no repetition here in a way that underscores tension), a slow rhythm (short lines don't create a slow rhythm), or a continuous thought (the lines are broken, not flowing as one long continuous thought).

Answer:

It builds the intensity, as it emphasizes the importance the family places on honoring a family member.