Paula studied a poem at school and made the following observations: the end of every other line rhymes. each line in the poem alternates between having nine and six syllables. the poet seems to value natural things that are wild or untamed. the poet seems to explore opposites like toys versus work tools, and wildflowers versus carefully trimmed fruit trees. these observations suggest that the poet shares values characteristic of which literary movement?

The correct answer is Romantic Poetry. Indeed, although Romantic Poetry rhyming was very diverse a large part of the system functioned by rhyming every other line and alternating between nine and six syllables. Here is an example of a stanza from Lord Byron’s Don Juan:

Whilk, which (or what you please), was owing to  

His garment’s novelty, and his being awkward;  

And yet at last he managed to get through

His toilet, though no doubt a little backward:

The negro Baba help’d a little, too,

When some untoward part of raiment stuck hard;

(Don Juan, V. 617-24)

Romanticism also valued nature immensely and the nature it valued was wild, untamed, thence wildflowers would be more Romantic than carefully trilled tress, which represented Classical Rationalism. The fact that Romanticism held in high regard emotion above rationality explains the preference of toys over work tools.

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