This is an analysis of the poem Catullus : Lxxvi. that begins with:

If there be joy for one who looks back on his youth
And knows he has kept faith with God and men,...

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: ababcd efefcd gegecc bhbhdc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 010111111101 1111110111 1011010001 1101111011 11100001000 1001100100 11010110111111 111001111111 111111101111 10011111111 1111010110 1011011100 0011101010100 001110101011 10010011111 1111010111 1111001111 1111010101 010011111111 11011111011 1111111101 1111011101 1101100100 11111101001
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 278
  • Average number of words per stanza: 57
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 10
  • 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; and, you, me, this, be are repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same words misery, me 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 Catullus : Lxxvi.;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Thomas MacDonagh