Question

read the excerpt from \the weary blues.\

he made that poor piano moan with melody.
o blues!
swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
he played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
sweet blues!
coming from a black mans soul.
o blues!

the phrases \o blues!\ and \sweet blues!\ are examples of

alliteration.
repetition.
hyperbole.
simile.

Explanation:

Analyze the poetic excerpt

Using the Poetry Analysis and Blues Poetry Structure knowledge points, we examine the structure of Langston Hughes's "The Weary Blues." The excerpt contains recurring lines:

• "O Blues!" (appearing twice in this short passage)
• "Sweet Blues!"

Evaluate the literary devices

• Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds (not the primary device here).
• Repetition: The deliberate repeating of words, phrases, or lines to create rhythm, emphasize a feeling, or mimic the structure of blues music. The phrases "O Blues!" and "Sweet Blues!" repeat the word "Blues" and the exclamation structure to create a musical refrain.
• Hyperbole: An extreme exaggeration (not applicable here).
• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as" (present in "like a musical fool," but not in the targeted phrases).

Therefore, the phrases are examples of repetition.

Answer:

• alliteration.
• repetition. (Correct answer)
• hyperbole.
• simile.