A Discussion of Repetition in Goh Sin Tub's poem Colleen
Repetition in “Colleen” by Goh Sin Tub
Definition
Repetition is defined as “the return of a word, phrase, stanza form, or effect in any form of literature”.
Simply put, it is the repetition of the same (or similar) words, phrases, or sounds* in a literary text. It is seen more often in poetry, rather than prose.
(* - repetition of sounds is also known as rhyme)
Examples in “Colleen”
a) The first two words of Line 1 in Stanzas 1-3:
· ‘When you’
The first two words of Line 1 in Stanzas 4-5:
· ‘And when your’
The above examples signify:
· Goh’s anxiety, concern, or even obsession with what will happen to Colleen (‘you/your’) in the future (‘when’)
b) The first two words of Line 3 in Stanzas 1-5:
· ‘will you’ in Stanzas 1-2, 4-5
· ‘will your’ in Stanza 3
Line 3 of Stanzas 1, 2, 4, 5:
· ‘remember’ in Stanzas 1, 4, 5
· ‘recall’ in Stanza 3
The above examples signify:
· Goh’s unspoken fear that he will be forgotten by his granddaughter, Colleen
· Goh’s attempt to make sure that he is remembered – by repeatedly asking if he will be remembered, he is actually making himself difficult to forget
c) The last two lines of Stanza 1 and Stanza 5:
· ‘will you then remember when you were two / and you thought I was three and your romping mate?’ (1)
· ‘will you then remember when you were two / and I was three and we went .....[read full text]
i) Line 2 of Stanzas 1-5:
· ‘and I whatever they shall call seventy-eight,’
· ‘and I in bed unable to walk and attend,’ · ‘and I a senile but still great grandpa,’
· ‘and I have gone from here for good’
· ‘and you play and romp with grandchild too,’
Repetition of the idea of aging (first Goh in Stanzas 1-4, and later C.....