Use of Repetition

In Inanna's descent to the Underworld, the use of repetition is clearly and consistently employed in the text. The repeating of the same lines over and over again in the story conveys to the reader a sense of suspense and excitement and emphazizes Inanna's queenship and bravery.

The repetition of the lines conveys a sense of suspense leading up to the moment when Inanna gets to the Underworld: " Oh Father Enlil! Let no man put to death your child in Hades!... Let him not put to death in Hades the maiden Inanna" (lines 45-54)! By Inanna telling her servant Ninshubur those lines to deliver to Enlil, Nanna, and Enki, the story is building up to the moment when Inanna reaches the Underworld, where the danger lies. The repetition of those lines builds up to that moment of Inanna's descent.

The repetition of the same lines emphasize Inanna's queenship and bravery: "Kaffieh and aghal, the desert headdress, she put on her head;...Gold bracelets she slipped over her hands; and the breast shields...she drew over her chest" (lines 13-34). The repeating of these lines once again, emphasize Inanna's authority of queenship and her bravery as she ventures to the Underworld. This is exactly similar to that of a warrior prepraring for battle.

The use of repetition in Inanna's descent to the Underworld both conveys a sense of suspense that leads up to the moment of danger when Inanna reaches Hades, as well emphasize Inanna's bravery and her status as queen as she prepares for her trip beneath, similar to that of a warrior.