In comparing two poems, which element signals a mood shift between stanzas?

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Mood shifts between stanzas are signaled most clearly by a change in imagery or diction indicating transition. When the poet moves to a new stanza, fresh images, settings, or word choices create a different emotional atmosphere, and the tone shifts with those details. Imagery and diction directly shape how readers feel about what’s being described, making them the strongest indicators of a mood change. A sudden shift in meter can affect rhythm and energy, but by itself it doesn’t reliably mark a mood change and can occur without altering the mood. A change in the poem’s speaker points to a shift in perspective or voice, not necessarily the overall emotional climate of the stanzas. Formatting like font or layout is external to the poem’s language and doesn’t inherently signal mood within the text.