This is an analysis of the poem Overtasked that begins with:

It was a weary hour,
I looked in the lily-bell.... full text

Elements of the verse: questions and answers

The information we provided is prepared by means of a special computer program. Use the criteria sheet to understand greatest poems or improve your poetry analysis essay.

  • Rhyme scheme: abacX cXcXX dXdbX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,5,5,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: rondeau
  • Metre: 0101010 1100101 1100010 0111100101 11011011010 111111 1100101 0101111 1101101011 00101101111 1100101 11101001 0101101 110111110 1101101001
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 172
  • Average number of words per stanza: 36
  • Amount of lines: 17
  • Average number of symbols per line: 30 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

If you write a school or university poetry essay, you should Include in your explanation of the poem:

  • summary of Overtasked;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward