Read the excerpt from "Rosa” by Rita Dove. How she stood up when they bent down to retrieve her purse. That courtesy. How does the poet’s use of enjambment affect the meaning of the excerpt?

The line break separates “they bent down” from “to retrieve her purse,” briefly interrupting the action and drawing attention to how Rosa responds. The fragment “That courtesy” then emphasizes the significance of her standing up in that moment. The enjambment breaks apart the actions to stress the importance of a moment, rather than listing events or showing a conflict.

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