This is an analysis of the poem Christmas-Day, 1878 that begins with:

I think I might be weary of this day
That comes inevitably every year,...

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: ababba acacca adXdda
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1111010001 11010001001 0111111111 0111111101 11110001001 11110011001 11110011001 1101100101 1111010111 1101011001 1101010111 1110110101 11001011111 1101010101 1101110110 1111111001 0101000001 11110111001
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 239
  • Average number of words per stanza: 50
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 39 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; i, and, every are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word the is repeated.

    The author used the same word i at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines day is repeated).

    The poet repeated the same word day at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of Christmas-Day, 1878;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by George MacDonald