Old Man's Nursery Rhyme by James Whitcomb Riley: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem Old Man's Nursery Rhyme that begins with:

I.
In the jolly winters... 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: a BCcCdece X BFdfedXd X ccCgfbf X BFXfbbgb a XgggbCcC
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,8,1,8,1,7,1,8,1,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1 001010 00101 0111111 111 111010 1101 0101101 1100111 1 001010 00111 111110 00111 100101 111010 110111 01110 1 00101000101 1011111 111 110111 10101 110111 11101 1 001010 00111 1011010 10101 1101010 1111 1001011 1111 1 110101 10111 100101 10101 101010 00101 1011111 111
  • Amount of stanzas: 10
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 91
  • Average number of words per stanza: 18
  • Amount of lines: 44
  • Average number of symbols per line: 20 (very short strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 4

  • 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.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; as is repeated.

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

  • summary of Old Man's Nursery Rhyme;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by James Whitcomb Riley

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